as far as I know, it's impossible to detect whether the pipe has data waiting.

Actually, you can. See PeekNamedPipe() which is explicitly documented as also working on:

a handle to the read end of an anonymous pipe, as returned by the CreatePipe function.

Though it is difficult to see how to integrate it with win32/win32sck.c win32_select() in order to allow select to operate in the *nix fashion on pipes as well as sockets?

Examine what is said, not who speaks -- Silence betokens consent -- Love the truth but pardon error.
"Science is about questioning the status quo. Questioning authority".
In the absence of evidence, opinion is indistinguishable from prejudice.
"Too many [] have been sedated by an oppressive environment of political correctness and risk aversion."

In reply to Re^10: Please suggest a non-forking way to do this (OS: windows) by BrowserUk
in thread Please suggest a non-forking way to do this (OS: windows) by cranky

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