Java.lang.Process class in Java

The abstract Process class is a process that is, an executing program. Methods provided by the Process are used to perform input, and output, waiting for the process to complete, checking the exit status of the process, and destroying the process.

• It extends class Object.
• It is used primarily as a superclass for the type of object created by exec() in the Runtime class.
• ProcessBuilder.start() and Runtime.getRuntime.exec() methods create a native process and return an instance of a subclass of Process that can be used to control the process and obtain information about it.
• ProcessBuilder.start() is the most preferred way to create a process.

ProcessBuilder.start() vs Runtime.getRuntime.exec(): ProcessBuilder allows us to redirect the standard error of the child process into its standard output. Now we don't need two separate threads one reading from stdout and one reading from stderr. Constructor

• Process(): This is the only constructor.

Methods:

1. void destroyForcibly(): Kills the subprocess.

Syntax: public abstract void destroyForcibly().
Returns: NA.
Exception: NA.

Output:

Creating Process
Waiting
Process destroyed

Output:

Creating process
destroying process

int exitValue(): This method returns the exit value for the subprocess.

Syntax: public abstract int exitValue().
Returns: This method returns the exit value of 
the subprocess represented by this Process object. 
By convention, the value 0 indicates normal termination.
Exception: IllegalThreadStateException ,
if the subprocess represented by this Process object has not yet terminated.

Output:

Creating Process
1

abstract InputStream getErrorStream(): This method gets the input stream of the subprocess.

Syntax: public abstract InputStream getInputStream().
Returns: input stream that reads input from the process out output stream.
Exception: NA.

Output:

1
2
3

abstract OutputStream getOutputStream(): This method gets the output stream of the subprocess. Output to the stream is piped into the standard input stream of the process represented by this Process object.

Syntax: public abstract OutputStream getOutputStream()
Returns: the output stream connected to the normal input of the subprocess.
Exception: NA.

Output:

Creating Process...
Closing the output stream...

abstract InputStream getErrorStream(): It returns an input stream that reads input from the process err output stream.

Syntax: public abstract InputStream getErrorStream().
Returns: the input stream connected to the error stream of the subprocess.
Exception: NA.

Output:

Creating Process

int waitFor(): Returns the exit code returned by the process. This method does not return until the process on which it is called terminates.

Syntax: public int waitFor().
Returns: the exit value of the process. By convention, 0 indicates normal termination.
Exception: throws InterruptedException.

1. Output:

Creating Process...
Waiting over.