Reptyr: attach a running process to a new terminal (2011)
Reptyr is a utility designed to attach a running process to a new terminal without interrupting it. Unlike other similar tools, reptyr effectively changes the controlling terminal of the process, allowing for seamless operation of commands like ^C and ^Z. While it has limitations, such as issues with processes that have children, the tool shows promise for improving user experience in managing long-running processes.
- ▪Reptyr allows users to attach existing running programs to new terminals.
- ▪It resolves issues present in similar tools like screenify and retty by changing the controlling terminal of the process.
- ▪Reptyr is designed to work better with various programs, ensuring they function correctly after being attached.
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| Original publisher | Made of Bugs |
| Canonical URL | https://blog.nelhage.com/2011/01/reptyr-attach-a-running-process-to-a-new-terminal/ |
| Publication time | Fri, 22 May 2026 00:20:22 +0000 |
| Retrieval time | 2026-05-22T00:31:36.520Z |
| Last seen | 2026-05-22T00:31:36.520Z |
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reptyr: Attach a running process to a new terminal Jan 21, 2011 Over the last week, I’ve written a nifty tool that I call reptyr. reptyr is a utility for taking an existing running program and attaching it to a new terminal. Started a long-running process over ssh, but have to leave and don’t want to interrupt it? Just start a screen, use reptyr to grab it, and then kill the ssh session and head on home. You can grab the source, or read on for some more details. There’s a shell script called screenify that’s been going around the internet for nigh on 10 years now that is supposed to use gdb to accomplish the same thing. There’s also a project called retty that tries to do the same thing, in C using ptrace() directly.
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