Process Replication

replicate.c

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

/* Holds the path to the process's executable file.
   Copied from `argv[0]` in the `main` function. */
extern const char* prog_path;

/* Replicates the current process. */
int replicate(void)
{
    pid_t pid;
    const char* args[] = { prog_path, NULL };
    
    pid = fork();
    if (pid < 0) {
        /* fork failed; `errno` can be used to indicate
           the actual error. */
        return -1;
    }
    
    if (pid > 0) {
        /* We're still in the parent process. */
        return 0;
    }
    
    /* Detach the child process from its parent. */
    setsid();
    execv(prog_path, args);
    
    return 0;
}