Use Case 2: user multiple command/script synchronization

This use case extends Use Case 1: you don’t want some commands or some scripts submitted by a user can run at the same time, but you want parallel execution for some different commands/scripts. The typical usage is related to crontab and the chance some command runs late due to an undesired condition.

Open four terminals and try this experiment:

1. inside the first terminal write this command at prompt, but do not press “enter”: “flom -r R1 -- sleep 10”
2. inside the second terminal write this command at prompt, but do not press “enter”: “flom -r R1 -- ls”
3. inside the third terminal write this command at prompt, but do not press “enter”: “flom -r R2 -- sleep 5”
4. inside the fourth terminal write this command at prompt, but do not press “enter”: “flom -r R2 -- echo Hello World”
5. now press “enter” key in every terminal following the same order used to prepare the commands (first, second, third, fourth)

Expected result:

1. the first terminal pauses for 10 seconds
2. the second terminal pauses (10 seconds) and displays the output of command “ls” after the first terminal sleeping terminates
3. the third terminal pauses for 5 seconds
4. the fourth terminal pauses (5 seconds) and displays the output of command “echo Hello Worlds” after the third terminal sleeping terminates

Terminal 1 output:

tiian@mojan:/usr$ flom -r R1 -- sleep 10
tiian@mojan:/usr$ 

Terminal 2 output:

tiian@mojan:/usr$ flom -r R1 -- ls
bin  games  include  lib  lib64  local	sbin  share  src
tiian@mojan:/usr$ 

Terminal 3 output:

tiian@mojan:~$ flom -r R2 -- sleep 5
tiian@mojan:~$ 

Terminal 4 output:

tiian@mojan:~$ flom -r R2 -- echo Hello World
Hello World
tiian@mojan:~$ 

Explanation:

The commands executed inside terminals 1 and 2 synchronize on resource “R1”; the commands executed inside terminals 3 and 4 synchronize on resource “R2”. “Hello World” is displayed before directory content (“ls” command) because the two synchronize on different resources.

Summary

Independent commands can be grouped and synchronized using distinct resources.
Argument “-r” (long form is “--resource-name”) can be used to specify the resource you want to synchronize on; you may use “Resource/Name” property inside configuration files as an alternative way to specify a non default resource.

See also

FLoM available arguments are documented in man page: use man flom.
FLoM configuration explains how you can specify flom behavior without using command line arguments.