Signal

Signal is an extension that provides support for intercepting Unix signals. Applications might make use of this as an alternative to the send command, or to handle shutdown cleanly.

Extension origin: http://www.nyx.net/~mschwart/signal_ext.html

Following is some simple documentation.

signal add signo proc [-async]

Adds a signal handler for signal signo through proc proc.

Signals can be provided by number, or the most common ones are provided by name (e.g., SIGHUP).

The proc is any Tcl procedure, and it is evaluated when the signal comes in. It will be provided no arguments.

Signal handlers have Posix semantics--they persist until reset.

If -async is used, the signal handler is created using Tcl_AsyncCreate(). Checks for the signal are very frequent (each evaluation) using this technique, but one doesn't know quite where evaluation is or how to handle errors in this situation. The code will evaluate the provided procedure in the current interpreter if available, and in the interpreter which added the signal handler otherwise. At least until a better scheme is suggested.

The -async is especially useful to interrupt "runaway" procs, or to cause a quick exit; the default mechanism simply waits for another MainLoop cycle.

signal delete signo

Restores handling of signal signo to the default (SIG_DFL).

signal print

Prints the handling of all signals with handlers.

Formatted as

signal ----> procedure

or as

signal !---> procedure

if the signal is handled asynchronously

signal print signo

Prints the procedure for handling signal signo.

Prints the word UNHANDLED if no signal handler is active for that signal.

signal version

Returns the string representing the current version of the package.

Copyright (C) 1996 Schwartz Computer Consulting Services

© 2008 Peter MacDonald