NAME

nice − run a command at low priority

SYNOPSIS

nice [ −increment ] command [ arguments ]

DESCRIPTION

Nice executes command with a lower CPU scheduling priority.  If the increment argument (in the range 1-19) is given, it is used; if not, an increment of 10 is assumed. 

The super-user may run commands with priority higher than normal by using a negative increment, e.g., −−10. 

An increment larger than 19 is equivalent to 19. 

HARDWARE DEPENDENCIES

Series 500:
A note to the super-user:  be careful about increasing the priority of your processes.  Your keyboard process is running at a nice value of 1, 2, 3, or 4.  If you should assign a process a nice value of 0, you will lock out your keyboard, forcing you to reboot the system.

SEE ALSO

nohup(1), nice(2). 

DIAGNOSTICS

Nice returns the exit status of the subject command. 

NOTES

Nice is built into csh(1) with a slightly different syntax than described here. The form "nice +10" nices to positive nice, and "nice -10" can be used by the super-user to give a process more of the processor.

INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT

8- and 16-bit data, 8-bit filenames. 

Hewlett-Packard Company  —  Version B.1,  May 11, 2021