Newsgroups: comp.unix.questions
Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!torsqnt!geac!maccs!maccs.dcss.mcmaster.ca!ashraf
From: ashraf@maccs.dcss.mcmaster.ca (Ashraf Mahmoud)
Subject: HELP wanted regarding READ() system call!
Message-ID: <283AD302.28479@maccs.dcss.mcmaster.ca>
Sender: ashraf@maccs.dcss.mcmaster.ca (Ashraf Mahmoud)
Organization: McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Date: Wed, 22 May 91 20:22:25 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.