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Everything about Procfs

Filesystem in Unix-like operating systems

The proc filesystem (procfs) is a special filesystem in Unix-like operating systems that presents information about processes and other system information in a hierarchical file-like structure, providing a more convenient and standardized method for dynamically accessing process data held in the kernel than traditional tracing methods or direct access to kernel memory. Typically, it is mapped to a mount point named /proc at boot time. The proc file system acts as an interface to internal data structures about running processes in the kernel. In Linux, it can also be used to obtain information about the kernel and to change certain kernel parameters at runtime (sysctl). Wikipedia →

🧭 Start here: a 6-step reading path

  1. Read the overview: ProcfsA 5-minute orientation
  2. Pick up a classic book: Advances in Knowledge Discovery and Data MiningThe most-reprinted book on the subject
  3. Read the landmark paper: Security compromise via procfsCited 0 times
  4. Go sideways: SysfsA closely related topic
  5. Go sideways: Filesystem Hierarchy StandardA closely related topic

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🗂️ The subject at a glance

  1. History

🏆 Landmark papers (most cited)

📚 Books worth reading

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