How can you start a process in parallel with the shell?

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BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

When learning about how to start a process in parallel from a shell, it helps to evaluate what each symbol does in the command line context.
Option 1: 'By using && at the end of the command' This uses the logical AND operator in shells like Bash. It does not run in parallel; instead, the second command runs only after the first completes successfully. If the first command fails, the second won’t run, so parallel execution is not achieved.
Option 2: 'By using & at the end of the command' The single ampersand is the standard way to put a command in the background, allowing the shell to continue accepting new input while the command runs concurrently. This is the classic method to start a process in parallel with the shell.
Option 3: 'By using || at the end of the command' This uses the logical OR operator. It executes the second command only if the first fails. Like &&, it does not run both in parallel; it sequences them based on the first command’s success or failure, so parallelism is not introduced.
Option 4: 'By using sudo parallel before the command' This mixes concepts: sudo elevates privileges, and parallel (as a concept) would require specific tooling such as GNU parallel or a construct that supports parallel execution. Simply prepending sudo to a command does not automatically parallelize it, and the phrasing 'before the command' is ambiguous in the shell. Therefore, this does not reliably start a single process in parallel with the shell as a general rule.
A helpful way to distinguish these behaviors is to imagine the shell prompt staying available for new input immediately after you launch the command. The only option that guarantees this immediate continuation is the one that backgrounds the job, which aligns with the use of '&' at the end of the command.

INFO1112 (ND) Weekly-quiz-04-2025

How can you start a process in parallel with the shell?

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