NAME¶

idle - make process 0 idle

SYNOPSIS¶

#include <unistd.h>

int idle(void);

DESCRIPTION¶

idle() is an internal system call used during bootstrap. It marks the process's pages as swappable, lowers its priority, and enters the main scheduling loop. idle() never returns.

Only process 0 may call idle(). Any user process, even a process with superuser permission, will receive EPERM.

RETURN VALUE¶

idle() never returns for process 0, and always returns -1 for a user process.

ERRORS¶

EPERM

Always, for a user process.

VERSIONS¶

Since Linux 2.3.13, this system call does not exist anymore.

STANDARDS¶

This function is Linux-specific, and should not be used in programs intended to be portable.