Re: Named Pipes

[David Fokkema <dfokkema@ileos.nl>]

On Sat, Aug 16, 2003 at 06:24:09AM -0700, moseley@hank.org wrote:
> 
> I wanted to use a named pipe to provide random images.  I know I can use 
> a program in a loop writing to the pipe, but that means starting the 
> program initially (from say a init.d or xdm startup script) where it 
> sits blocked until read from.
> 
> Question:
> 
> Is there a way in Linux to have the action of the reading program 
> opening the pipe (for reading) start up the writing program?
> 
> For example, if output_image.pl is a script that writes an image to a 
> named pipe, is there a way to associate it to a pipe where you can say:
> 
>    $ display some_named_pipe
> 
> and have that action execute the program output_image.pl?
> 
> I'm just wondering if there's a way to avoid starting the writing 
> program.

Do you have a particular task in mind? If so, maybe someone knows of an
alternative way without depending on named pipes.

David

-- 
Happy Birthday, Debian!
August 16, 1993
 
http://www.linuxplanet.com/linuxplanet/print/4959/