Linux timeout Guide

⏱ Linux timeout Guide

Complete beginner-friendly guide to timeout on Linux, covering Arch Linux, CachyOS, and other distributions including limiting command execution time, process timeouts, and command duration control.

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Table of Contents

1. Understanding timeout
2. timeout Basics
3. Time Limits
4. Signal Handling
5. Troubleshooting

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Understanding timeout

What is timeout?

timeout runs command with time limit.

Uses:

• Time limits: Limit command execution
• Prevent hanging: Stop hanging commands
• Process control: Control process duration
• Script safety: Make scripts safer

Why it matters:

• Prevent hangs: Stop hanging processes
• Time control: Control execution time
• Script safety: Make scripts robust

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⏱ timeout Basics

Run with Timeout

Basic usage:

# Run with timeout (10 seconds)
timeout 10 command

# Kills command after 10 seconds

Time Units

Specify units:

# Seconds (default)
timeout 10 command

# Minutes
timeout 5m command

# Hours
timeout 1h command

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⏰ Time Limits

Kill Signal

Send signal:

# Send TERM signal
timeout 10 command

# Sends TERM, then KILL if needed

Custom Signal

Specify signal:

# Custom signal
timeout -s KILL 10 command

# -s = signal (sends KILL immediately)

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Signal Handling

Preserve Status

Keep exit status:

# Preserve exit status
timeout --preserve-status 10 command

# Keeps original exit code

Foreground Mode

Foreground execution:

# Run in foreground
timeout --foreground 10 command

# Doesn't create new process group

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Troubleshooting

timeout Not Found

Check installation:

# Check timeout
which timeout

# Usually in coreutils
# Install if missing
sudo pacman -S coreutils

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Summary

This guide covered timeout usage, time limits, and process control for Arch Linux, CachyOS, and other distributions.

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Next Steps

• watch Guide - Monitor commands
• Process Management - Process management
• timeout Documentation: man timeout

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This guide covers Arch Linux, CachyOS, and other Linux distributions. For distribution-specific details, refer to your distribution's documentation.