Need Help with Count function

Hi,

I'm currently trying to write a code using pipes that counts the multiples of 5 that are between numbers 1-10000. The code i've written so far gives me some pretty weird outputs. I think my problem is the count function in my for loop Could someone help me with this? Thanks.

Code:

#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
#include <unistd.h>
#include <sys/types.h>


int main()
{
	int fd[2]; 
	int nbytes;
	pid_t childpid;
	int array[10001];
	int a;
	int count;
	int m;	

	pipe(fd);
	
		if((childpid = fork()) == -1)
		{
		perror("fork");
		exit(1);
		}
			if(childpid == 0)
			{
			//Child process
			//close(fd[1]);
			//Reading arrays
			//nbytes =read(fd[0],
			}	
		else
		{	
			//Parent process
			//close(fd[0]);
		}
	for ( m = 0; m < 10001; m++) 
	{
	count=0;
	a=1;
	while(a<=m)
	{
		if((m%5) == 0)
		count++;	
		a++;
		array[0]++;
	}
			//if( count == 2000) {
			printf("%d\n",array[0]); //}
	}

	//array[m]=m;		


			//Write arrays
	//write(fd[1],
return 0;
}

To use pipes as a communications channel, redirect I/O of each of the processes involved. That is, if child process is the one reading from the pipe, close its stdout and attach its stdin to one end of the pipe. If parent process is the one writing to the pipe, close its stdin and attach its stdout to other end of the pipe. Don't see that anywhere in the current code which may explain why you're seeing "some pretty weird outputs".

I guess I should have explained my problem better. I'm trying to count all the multiples of 5 between 1-10000. The numbers that aren't multiples of 5 are sent into to the child process to search for multiples of 3. After that, the results in the child are sent to the parent will print the count of the multiples of 3 and 5.

When I run the code I have so far, I get a display of 0,0,0,0,0,0,5,0,0,0,0,10..to 5000. I was expecting the count to increment each time it gets a multiple of 5 and give me the total number of multiples but its not doing that.

The way the program is written there's no connection between the parent and child process and counting multiples of 5 is done in both the child and parent processes. The output is garbled depending on which process is currently executing. In a nutshell the pipe has been created but it is not being used.

Well, I was thinking of having the parent write to the child process and the child will do a read function. Is it easier to use a stdin and stdout?

Can you post the code you are using. The one you posted earlier is mostly commented out so it's not easy to figure out what statements are being executed. To have the parent be the writer and child the reader; redirect stdout of the parent to the pipe and close its stdin stream. In the child close stdout and attach stdin to the pipe.

I'm still sort of a novice at using pipes. How do you implement the stdout and stdin? I'm lookin for an example code. Here is what I have so far.

Code:

#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
#include <unistd.h>
#include <sys/types.h>


int main()
{
	int fd[2]; 
	int nbytes;
	pid_t childpid;
	int array[10001];
	int a;
	int count;
	int m;	

	pipe(fd);
	
		if((childpid = fork()) == -1)
		{
		perror("fork");
		exit(1);
		}
			if(childpid == 0)
			{
			//Child process

			}	
		else
		{	
			//Parent process

		}
	for ( m = 0; m < 10001; m++) 
	{
	count=0;
	a=1;
	while(a<=m)
	{
		if((m%5) == 0)
		count++;	
		a++;
		array[0]++;
	}
			printf("%d\n",array[0]);
	}


return 0;
}

Check out this item on pipes in the FAQ.

Originally Posted by MSkiLLz

Well, I was thinking of having the parent write to the child process and the child will do a read function. Is it easier to use a stdin and stdout?

It is easier to use stdin and stdout but then there is going to be no channel for communications between the parent and child processes which the pipe() call provides.

Originally Posted by MSkiLLz

... I'm lookin for an example code.

Here's one.

Code:

#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
#include <unistd.h>

int main()
{
    int fd[2]; 
    pid_t childpid;
    int count = 0;
    int m;
    char buf[100];

    pipe(fd);

    if ((childpid = fork()) == -1) {
        perror("fork");
        exit(1);
    }
    else if (childpid == 0) {
        dup2(fd[0], 0);
        read(fd[0], buf, sizeof buf);
        printf("child process: no. of multiples of 5 is %s\n", buf);
    }
    else if (childpid > 0) {
        close(fd[0]);
        dup2(fd[1], 1);
        for (m = 0; m < 1001; m++)
            if ((m%5) == 0)
                count++;
        printf("%d", count);
    } 
    return 0;
}

Thanks itCbitC. That example helped alot. Now its actually counting multiples instead spitting out random stuff. I thought this program would have to use arrays though since i have to pass the numbers that aren't multiples of 5 to the child process to find multiples of 3. One little note I left out was that I was told the parent is the only one that runs the for loop. How exactly is that possible?

Sorry for the double post but I've tried editing the code trying to pass the values to the child process to find the multiple of 3 but I don't know if using the write function is the right way.

. . . and so why don't you post how you're using the write function?

Here is the man page for the write function. You pass it three things . . . the file descriptor, the data to write, and the size of the data being written.

here it is. Sorry if y'all don't understand what i've added since I'm mostly doing trail and error over here.

Code:

#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
#include <unistd.h>

int main()
{
    int fd[2]; 
    pid_t childpid;
    int count = 0;
    int m;
    char buf[100];

    pipe(fd);

    if ((childpid = fork()) == -1) {
        perror("fork");
        exit(1);
    }
    else if (childpid == 0) {
        dup2(fd[0], 0);
        read(fd[0], buf, sizeof buf);
        printf("child process: no. of multiples of 5 is %s\n", buf);
	read(fd[1], buf, sizeof buf);					//F	
	printf("child process: no. of multiples of 3 is %s\n", buf);	//F
    }
    else if (childpid > 0) {
        close(fd[0]);
        dup2(fd[1], 1);
        for (m = 0; m < 10001; m++)
            if ((m%5) == 0)
                count++;
        printf("%d", count); }
	     else if (childpid > 0) {					//F
	for (m= 0; m < 10001; m++)						//F
		if ((m%3) == 0)				
		count++;
		write(fd[1], buf, sizeof buf);
	printf("%d", count);
    } 
    return 0;

Not having used fork() for a while, I can't say what's wrong with it . . .

But exactly what happens when you run it? . . .

EDIT: never mind, compiled it myself. I'll look at it in a moment.