Newsgroups: comp.unix.questions
Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!torsqnt!lsuc!maccs!ashraf
From: ashraf@maccs.dcss.mcmaster.ca (Ashraf Mahmoud)
Subject: A question about read() system call!!
Message-ID: <28398698.26968@maccs.dcss.mcmaster.ca>
Organization: McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Date: Tue, 21 May 91 20:44:07 GMT


Hello Every Body,

  I wonder if I can get help regarding the unix system call "read()".
When a program executes this system call to read from an empty pipeline,  
shouldn't it return zero ( nothing is read ) and passes control to the next 
statement? I think it remains stuck waiting for something to be put it the 
pipeline. How can I overcome this behaviour? That is making it pass control 
to next statement even if pipeline is empty. I would appreciate responses.

Ashraf   
McMaster U.