kill

Typecommand
DictionaryLCS
LibraryLiveCode Script
Syntax
kill [{<signalNumber> | <signalName>}] process <processName>
Summary

Signals or quits another process or application on the same system.

Introduced1.0
OSmac, windows, linux
Platformsdesktop, server
Parameters
NameTypeDescription
signalNumber

The number of the Unix signal to send to the process. *Note:* The signalNumber parameter is ignored on Mac OS and Windows systems.

signalName

The name of a Unix signal, minus the leading "SIG". (For example, to send SIGHUP to a process, use HUP as the signalName.) *Note:* The signalName parameter is ignored on Mac OS and Windows systems.

processName

The name of a currently executing process.

Example
kill process "rnews"
kill 9 process myProcess -- terminate with extreme prejudice
kill QUIT process it
RelatedKeyword: file
Message: signal
Command: open process, quit, close process, launch
Function: openProcessIDs, sysError, files, processID, openProcesses
Control Structure: exit
Glossary: Unix, Apple Event, command, process
Securityprocess
Description

Use the kill command to send a signal to a process (on Unixsystems), or to terminate a process with extreme prejudice.

On Mac OS systems, the kill command sends a "Quit Application" Apple event to the specified application.

On Unix systems, the kill command sends the specified signal to the process. If no signal is specified, the kill command sends SIGTERM. Check the Unix documentation for information about available signals. The file /usr/include/sys/signal.h lists signals and their corresponding signal numbers.

If possible, use the close process command instead of the kill command to terminate a process. The kill command causes an immediate exit, and may prevent the process from removing temporary files or doing other cleanup tasks.