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Posted by danielwhitten
danielwhitten
488 Points

Test Quiz Incorrect ?

Hi I'm 99% sure the test answer is wrong on this, It keeps saying I answered incorrect.

It's for the Console Foundations. Question as follows:

What does the jobs program do?

[A] Shows a list of processes in your current session.

[B] Allows you to stop or kill processes.

[C] Lists all paused process on the system.

[D] Shows all processes on the system.

I chose [C] because it only shows processes that are paused, if you don't have any programs paused then it will show nothing when you type Jobs, therefore all the other answers are incorrect

But when I choose [C] it says that is an incorrect answer....

I sent a bug report. Opinions?

4 Answers

Stone Preston
Stone Preston
42,016 Points
Stone Preston
Stone Preston
42,016 Points

according to this the jobs command displays the status of jobs in the current session. which would be answer choice A

danielwhitten
danielwhitten
488 Points

Thank you again for correcting me, I can see these forums will also be a great learning resource.

danielwhitten
danielwhitten
488 Points
danielwhitten
danielwhitten
488 Points

Option A says a "list of processes". Jobs does not show any process if you sign in and type jobs.

It will only show a process that is paused, if it showed a list of processes than I could type jobs and get a list of processes. Which I can't, I only get a list of processes that is paused with clrt Z, that is closer to answer C than A

Given that jobs will only lists paused processes and not other process, leads me to think option C, lists all "paused process" as the correct answer.

Example, top and ps will list process, I think answer A would apply here.

Unlike top, Jobs only list pause processes so it would seem that C, lists paused process is the correct answer.

Sorry if I'm missing something here but it just seems to me that C is the obvious answer, because jobs only lists a process that is paused and that is what answer C says.

EDIT(never mind Stone is correct.)

Stone Preston
Stone Preston
42,016 Points
Stone Preston
Stone Preston
42,016 Points

Well, I wont try and convince you that A is the correct answer, but here could be a reason C is incorrect. it states C] Lists all paused process on the system.. Since we know jobs lists processes in the current session (in the shell) , not all processes on the system, you can probably assume C is incorrect (it does not display processes running on the system, only processes in the current session).

have a look at this article it goes through using the jobs command for listing currently running processes in your session. The reason signing in and typing jobs displays nothing is that you havent started any processes in your current session yet

James Barnett
James Barnett
39,199 Points
James Barnett
James Barnett
39,199 Points

> have a look at this article it goes through using the jobs command for listing currently running processes in your session. The reason signing in and typing jobs displays nothing is that you haven't started any processes in your current session yet

I think you misunderstood what http://www.cyberciti.biz/faq/unix-linux-jobs-command-examples-usage-syntax/ is saying.

Try this:

  1. Log into a Linux terminal session
  2. Run ps to see what processes are running
  3. Run jobs to see there are no jobs running
  4. Run top and then suspend it using ctrl+z
  5. Run jobs to see top listed
  6. Run ps to see top listed in addition to the processes you noted in step 2
Stone Preston
Stone Preston
42,016 Points
Stone Preston
Stone Preston
42,016 Points

ah i see now. I didnt notice the & before which would make them run in the background. that makes sense. So I guess technically there isnt a correct answer, but A is the least incorrect?

danielwhitten
danielwhitten
488 Points
danielwhitten
danielwhitten
488 Points

Thank you for this article http://www.cyberciti.biz/faq/unix-linux-jobs-command-examples-usage-syntax/ that shows how Jobs can list current running processes on the "session".

And it being that jobs does not list "ALL" processes on the system, just the current session.

Okay, you are correct then Stone Preston, thank you for taking the time to educate me on this. :)

James Barnett
James Barnett
39,199 Points
James Barnett
James Barnett
39,199 Points

That question as currently written doesn't really have a correct answer.

  • ps - Shows a list of processes in your current session.
  • jobs - Shows a list of background process in your current session.
danielwhitten
danielwhitten
488 Points

So do I get the special Exterminator badge if it turns out it needs to be re written? lol

But Stone did list an article showing how Jobs command can be used for listing currently running processes in your session, which would be answer [A] Shows a list of processes in your current session.

Even though you can do that, I don't recall this being taught in the video lesson, so not sure how it should be a test question for the video that someone is to be graded on.

We are to be tested on the knowledge that we have been taught from the video, while it may be true that you can do that with jobs, it was not to my memory conveyed in the video lesson.

Sorry if they actually did mention this in the video and I'm not remembering it, if not, maybe they should add this information to the video or re word the answers.

Anyways, it's not really that important, the lesson is fine as is.

Also, this is the best tutorial I've seen, Treehouse is great, I've learned allot already, really great lessons.