daemonize

Run a command as a daemon

$ daemonize [command] [command_arguments]

$ daemonize -p [path/to/pidfile] [command] [command_arguments]

$ daemonize -l [path/to/lockfile] [command] [command_arguments]

$ sudo daemonize -u [user] [command] [command_arguments]

daemonize [options] command [arguments]

--help
    Display help information and exit.

--version
    Display version information and exit.

-v|--verbose
    Provide more detailed/verbose logs.

-q|--quiet
    Reduce amount of logs.

-c|--chroot
    chroot to the specified directory.

-u|--user
    Change user.

-g|--group
    Change group.

-p|--pidfile
    Create pidfile at specified path.

-o|--output
    Write output to file.

-e|--error
    Write errors to file.

The `daemonize` command detaches a process from the controlling terminal and runs it as a background daemon.

It typically involves forking the process, creating a new session ID, changing the working directory (often to `/`), redirecting standard input, standard output, and standard error (typically to `/dev/null`), and closing inherited file descriptors. This ensures the process continues to run even after the user who initiated it logs out or closes the terminal.

It simplifies daemon creation by handling many of the standard steps required to correctly daemonize a process. Note that the exact implementation details and available options might differ depending on the specific `daemonize` utility being used (e.g., from `systemd`, `moreutils`, or a custom script). It is often employed within init scripts or systemd service files to ensure that programs are reliably started and managed in the background. It is recommended to review the daemonize version manual which you are using to know the exact options used.

Different implementations of `daemonize` might have varying levels of robustness and adherence to best practices for daemonization. It's important to ensure that the selected implementation handles signal handling, file descriptor management, and other critical aspects correctly.

Sometimes it can be better to use `systemd` to run programs as daemons to provide better monitoring and management capabilities.

A common use case involves running a server application in the background. For example, `daemonize /path/to/my_server` will start the server process as a daemon.

When integrating a service managed by `daemonize` with `systemd`, you should create a service file that calls `daemonize` with the appropriate options. This allows `systemd` to monitor and manage the service.

nohup(1), screen(1), systemctl(1)