kill

Name

kill -- send a signal

Synopsis

#include <signal.h>

int kill(pid_t pid, int sig);

Description

kill() is as specified in the ISO POSIX (2003), but with differences as listed below.

Process ID -1 doesn't affect calling process

If pid is specified as -1, sig shall not be sent to the calling process. Other than this, the rules in the ISO POSIX (2003) apply.

Rationale: This was a deliberate Linus decision after an unpopular experiment in including the calling process in the 2.5.1 kernel. See "What does it mean to signal everybody?", Linux Weekly News, 20 December 2001, http://lwn.net/2001/1220/kernel.php3