Understanding the transitory /proc filesystem
Due Processes
The mysterious /proc virtual filesystem is a rich mine of information about everything in your system.
In productivity computing, typical users have limited use for the /proc directory. However, when you want information about all aspects of your system, including hardware, the processes running, and what is happening in the kernel, /proc is a concentrated source of fast and current information.
When learning Linux, you probably heard that everything is represented in the operating system as a file. Most of the files are text or binary, but others are more specialized, such as directories, or the contents of the /dev directory, which represent hardware devices and partitions. The /proc directory and its contents are another specialized type of file, making up a virtual or pseudo-filesystem.
What these terms mean is that /proc does not have a permanent existence on a hard drive the way an office suite data file or an application binary does. Instead, it is created as needed. If you look at the contents of /proc with the usual file management commands, you will see that everything has a current time stamp, and that most of the files have a size of 0 bytes. Presumably, too, /proc's special status explains why, if you use ls --color, either directly or as an alias for ls, the directories and other special types of files are not color-coded.
[...]
Buy this article as PDF
(incl. VAT)
Buy Linux Magazine
US / Canada
UK / Australia
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.
News
-
Two New Distros Adopt Enlightenment
MX Moksha and AV Linux 25 join ranks with Bodhi Linux and embrace the Enlightenment desktop.
-
Solus Linux 4.8 Removes Python 2
Solus Linux 4.8 has been released with the latest Linux kernel, updated desktops, and a key removal.
-
Zorin OS 18 Hits over a Million Downloads
If you doubt Linux isn't gaining popularity, you only have to look at Zorin OS's download numbers.
-
TUXEDO Computers Scraps Snapdragon X1E-Based Laptop
Due to issues with a Snapdragon CPU, TUXEDO Computers has cancelled its plans to release a laptop based on this elite hardware.
-
Debian Unleashes Debian Libre Live
Debian Libre Live keeps your machine free of proprietary software.
-
Valve Announces Pending Release of Steam Machine
Shout it to the heavens: Steam Machine, powered by Linux, is set to arrive in 2026.
-
Happy Birthday, ADMIN Magazine!
ADMIN is celebrating its 15th anniversary with issue #90.
-
Another Linux Malware Discovered
Russian hackers use Hyper-V to hide malware within Linux virtual machines.
-
TUXEDO Computers Announces a New InfinityBook
TUXEDO Computers is at it again with a new InfinityBook that will meet your professional and gaming needs.
-
SUSE Dives into the Agentic AI Pool
SUSE becomes the first open source company to adopt agentic AI with SUSE Enterprise Linux 16.