bfifo - Linux

Overview

bfifo is a powerful Linux command that creates a named pipe and passes data between processes. It is ideal for inter-process communication and data exchange in complex workflows.

Syntax

bfifo [-i input_pipe] [-o output_pipe] [-n pipe_name]

Options/Flags

  • -i input_pipe: Specifies the named pipe to read data from.
  • -o output_pipe: Specifies the named pipe to write data to.
  • -n pipe_name: Provides a custom name for the created named pipe. Default: in out

Examples

1. Simple Inter-process Communication:

bfifo -i input.pipe -o output.pipe &
echo "Hello World!" > input.pipe
cat output.pipe

2. Complex Workflow:

script1 | bfifo -i input1.pipe -o input2.pipe &
script2 -i input2.pipe -o output2.pipe &
bfifo -i output2.pipe -o output1.pipe &
script3 -i output1.pipe

Common Issues

  • Broken Pipes: Ensure that the named pipes exist and have proper permissions.
  • Deadlocks: Avoid writing data to the input pipe while reading from the output pipe.

Integration

With Tee:

script1 | tee >(bfifo -i shared.pipe) | script2

With xargs:

find . -type f -print0 | xargs -0 bfifo -i input.pipe > output.txt

Related Commands