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. 

EXAMPLE

For the Bourne shell:

nice -10 date

would cause the program date to be processed at a priority lower than normal (0), i.e., at +10.  In the C shell, the same is achieved by typing in

nice +10 date

SEE ALSO

nohup(1), nice(2). 

DIAGNOSTICS

Nice returns the exit status of the subject command. 

BUGS

An increment larger than 19 is equivalent to 19. 

Version 2.3  —  July 04, 1985