Project Overview
Implementation of shell pipe functionality in C, handling process communication, command execution, and inter-process data flow similar to shell pipe operations.

Technology Stack
Cutting-edge technologies and tools that power this project
C
Programming Language
Pipes
IPC Mechanism
Process Management
Fork & Exec
File Descriptors
I/O Redirection
Stack Overview
This project leverages a modern tech stack combining 4 powerful technologies to deliver exceptional performance, scalability, and user experience.
Key Features
Innovative features that make this project stand out from the crowd
Pipe Communication
Implemented pipe mechanism for inter-process communication, enabling data flow between commands.
Command Execution
Executes shell commands with proper argument parsing and environment variable handling.
File Redirection
Handles input and output redirection, reading from files and writing results to output files.
Process Management
Manages child processes using fork() and execve() with proper error handling and cleanup.
Feature Highlights
These 4 key features work together to create an exceptional user experience, combining functionality with modern design principles.
Development Journey
Key milestones and phases that shaped this project from concept to completion
Process Architecture Design
Designed the process communication architecture and established the basic pipe mechanism for inter-process data flow.
Command Execution
Implemented command parsing and execution using fork() and execve() with proper argument handling and PATH resolution.
Pipe Communication
Established pipe communication between processes with proper file descriptor management and data flow control.
Code Spotlight
Core pipex implementation with process communication
// Main pipex function handling pipe communication
int main(int argc, char **argv, char **envp)
{
int pipe_fd[2];
pid_t pid1, pid2;
if (argc != 5)
{
ft_putstr_fd("Usage: ./pipex file1 cmd1 cmd2 file2\n", 2);
return (1);
}
if (pipe(pipe_fd) == -1)
error_exit("Pipe creation failed");
pid1 = fork();
if (pid1 == 0)
first_child(argv, envp, pipe_fd);
pid2 = fork();
if (pid2 == 0)
second_child(argv, envp, pipe_fd);
close(pipe_fd[0]);
close(pipe_fd[1]);
waitpid(pid1, NULL, 0);
waitpid(pid2, NULL, 0);
return (0);
}
// First child process handling
void first_child(char **argv, char **envp, int *pipe_fd)
{
int infile;
infile = open(argv[1], O_RDONLY);
if (infile == -1)
error_exit("Input file error");
dup2(infile, STDIN_FILENO);
dup2(pipe_fd[1], STDOUT_FILENO);
close(pipe_fd[0]);
close(pipe_fd[1]);
close(infile);
execute_command(argv[2], envp);
}
// Second child process handling
void second_child(char **argv, char **envp, int *pipe_fd)
{
int outfile;
outfile = open(argv[4], O_WRONLY | O_CREAT | O_TRUNC, 0644);
if (outfile == -1)
error_exit("Output file error");
dup2(pipe_fd[0], STDIN_FILENO);
dup2(outfile, STDOUT_FILENO);
close(pipe_fd[0]);
close(pipe_fd[1]);
close(outfile);
execute_command(argv[3], envp);
}
Code Explanation
This code snippet demonstrates key functionality and implementation patterns used throughout the project.
Technical Challenges
Complex problems encountered during development and the innovative solutions that overcame them
Process Synchronization
Challenge
Coordinating multiple processes and ensuring proper data flow through pipes without deadlocks or race conditions.
Solution
Implemented proper process creation and waiting mechanisms with signal handling and systematic pipe management.
File Descriptor Management
Challenge
Managing file descriptors and ensuring proper cleanup to prevent resource leaks and maintain system stability.
Solution
Developed systematic approach to file descriptor handling with proper closing and comprehensive error checking.
Command Execution
Challenge
Properly parsing and executing shell commands with argument handling and environment variable management.
Solution
Implemented robust command parsing with PATH resolution and proper argument formatting for execve() calls.
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