How to make synchronism between two distinct C programs? - c

Question

First of all, I don't know if I can explain well my problem or you can get it in the appropriate way. But I will try to make it clear for you.
In fact, I have two different C programs.
The first one is a simple loop print of a message on the console :
#include <stdlib.h>
#include <stdio.h>
#include <unistd.h>
int main ()
{
while(1)
{
printf("WAITING\n");
sleep(1);
}
}
The second one is a blocking program that waits for an event ( press button ) to turn on led in my embedded board.
#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
#include <unistd.h>
#include <sys/types.h>
#include <sys/stat.h>
#include <fcntl.h>
#include <string.h>
#include <sys/select.h>
#include <sys/time.h>
#include <errno.h>
#include <linux/input.h>
#define BTN_FILE_PATH "/dev/input/event0"
#define LED_PATH "/sys/class/leds"
#define green "green"
void change_led_state(char *led_path, int led_value)
{
char lpath[64];
FILE *led_fd;
strncpy(lpath, led_path, sizeof(lpath) - 1);
lpath[sizeof(lpath) - 1] = '\0';
led_fd = fopen(lpath, "w");
if (led_fd == NULL) {
fprintf(stderr, "simplekey: unable to access led\n");
return;
}
fprintf(led_fd, "%d\n", led_value);
fclose(led_fd);
}
void reset_leds(void)
{
change_led_state(LED_PATH "/" green "/brightness", 0);
}
int configure_leds(void)
{
FILE *l_fd;
FILE *r_fd;
char *none_str = "none";
/* Configure leds for hand control */
r_fd = fopen(LED_PATH "/" green "/trigger", "w");
fprintf(r_fd, "%s\n", none_str);
fclose(r_fd);
/* Switch off leds */
reset_leds();
return 0;
}
void eval_keycode(int code)
{
static int green_state = 0;
switch (code) {
case 260:
printf("BTN left pressed\n");
/* figure out red state */
green_state = green_state ? 0 : 1;
change_led_state(LED_PATH "/" green "/brightness", green_state);
break;
}
}
int main(void)
{
int file;
/* how many bytes were read */
size_t rb;
int ret;
int yalv;
/* the events (up to 64 at once) */
struct input_event ev[64];
char *str = BTN_FILE_PATH;
printf("Starting simplekey app\n");
ret = configure_leds();
if (ret < 0)
exit(1);
printf("File Path: %s\n", str);
if((file = open(str, O_RDONLY)) < 0) {
perror("simplekey: File can not open");
exit(1);
}
for (;;) {
/* Blocking read */
rb= read(file, &ev, sizeof(ev));
if (rb < (int) sizeof(struct input_event)) {
perror("simplekey: short read");
exit(1);
}
for (yalv = 0;
yalv < (int) (rb / sizeof(struct input_event));
yalv++) {
if (ev[yalv].type == EV_KEY) {
printf("%ld.%06ld ",
ev[yalv].time.tv_sec,
ev[yalv].time.tv_usec);
printf("type %d code %d value %d\n",
ev[yalv].type,
ev[yalv].code, ev[yalv].value);
/* Change state on button pressed */
if (ev[yalv].value == 0)
eval_keycode(ev[yalv].code);
}
}
}
close(file);
reset_leds();
exit(0);
}
When I execute the second code, the program starts waiting for the event to switch on/off the led.
My question is :
How can I make interaction between the two programs ? I want to execute the firs one --> It starts printing for me " WAITING " until I press the BUTTON --> the LED turn on --> and then it goes back to the first program and re-start printing " WAITING " on the console.
I don't know if I explained well the issue but I hope that you can help me! Thank you.

Answer 1

You need a communication mechanism between your two programs. This is also known als inter-process communication.
Generally, you have several options to achieve this (depending on the operating system you are using, not all of them may be available):
Shared memory / shared files
Message passing (e.g. via sockets)
Pipes
Signals
A helpful introduction can be found here.