script return control, but continue running?

Jasper has asked for the wisdom of the Perl Monks concerning the following question:

Hi, Monks,

I want to access a script to run some routines, but I want to return to the page I call it from immediately, but continue running (it's running some tedious housekeeping during a registration). I have a way to do it, but it seems very awkward. Is there a better way. Without forking, that is ;)

#start of cgi
#blah blah blah

if(fork()) {

  exit 0;

} else {

  close STDOUT;
  close STDIN;
  close STDERR;

  # do rest of work here
}
[download]

I know there's no checking of results, etc., but that's not my worry at the moment. It's just a time consideration. With the code in the main registration page, people could get quite fed up waiting.

Oh, we're running vanilla cgi here, no mod-perl (not my choice!).

Comment on script return control, but continue running? Download Code

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Re: script return control, but continue running? by dave_the_m (Monsignor) on Jul 13, 2004 at 08:22 UTC
You either have to fork, or pass a message to a separate (pre-existing) daemon somewhere to do the work on your behalf. Forking sounds like the easier of the two options. Dave.	[reply]
Re: script return control, but continue running? by bgreenlee (Friar) on Jul 13, 2004 at 08:37 UTC
You could just have your cgi do: `system('housekeeping.pl &');` [download] Perhaps not the most elegant solution, but it Gets the Job Done™. Brad	[reply] [d/l]
Re: script return control, but continue running? by dfaure (Chaplain) on Jul 13, 2004 at 10:19 UTC
You may find this node interesting. ____ HTH, Dominique My two favorites: If the only tool you have is a hammer, you will see every problem as a nail. --Abraham Maslow Bien faire, et le faire savoir...	[reply]
Re^2: script return control, but continue running? by Jasper (Chaplain) on Jul 13, 2004 at 12:10 UTC
If by interesting, you mean vaguely familiar, well, yes. I did search here and on CLPM, but didn't find anything. I'm continuing to doubt my searching skillZ. Thanks for the replies.	[reply]
Re^3: script return control, but continue running? by dfaure (Chaplain) on Jul 13, 2004 at 18:23 UTC
The piece of code I cited would allow you to start a process and make it run like a daemon (aka init child), therefore made insensible to the death of invoking cgi. Isn't it that you wanted to get? ____ HTH, Dominique My two favorites: If the only tool you have is a hammer, you will see every problem as a nail. --Abraham Maslow Bien faire, et le faire savoir...	[reply]
•Re: script return control, but continue running? by merlyn (Sage) on Jul 13, 2004 at 14:33 UTC
You could look at any of my columns that mention both cgi and fork. I list the requirements fairly consistently. -- Randal L. Schwartz, Perl hacker Be sure to read my standard disclaimer if this is a reply.	[reply]