Exec system call

The exec() family executes a file as a new process. See fork system call for "cloning" a process.

The

Simple use

The execlp() is one of the function call in the exec family. See manpage

The five arguments in the execlp() below is:

1. ls - the executable file must be in $PATH
2. ls - argv[0] as seen from the executable file
3. -l - argv[1] as seen from the executable file
4. /etc - argv[2] as seen from the executable file
5. NULL - argv[3] as seen from the executable file - end of argument list

#include <stdio.h>
#include <unistd.h>
int main()
{
        execlp("ls", "ls", "-l", "/etc", NULL);
        return 1;
}