C++ Sending a simple signal in Windows

Question

is there an equivalent to the function kill() on Windows?

int kill(pid_t pid, int sig);

If not, would it be possible to test if a process is running based on its PID?

Thanks

Answer 1

Windows doesn't have signals in the unix sense.

You can use OpenProcess to check if a process exists - If it succeeds, or fails with an access error, then the process exists.

bool processExists(DWORD ProcessID) {
  HANDLE hProcess = OpenProcess(SYNCHRONIZE, FALSE, ProcessID);
  if (hProcess != NULL) {
    CloseHandle(hProcess);
    return true;
  }
  // If the error code is access denied, the process exists but we don't have access to open a handle to it.
  return GetLastError() == ERROR_ACCESS_DENIED;
}

Answer 2

No signals in Windows. If true killing is intended then use TerminateProcess(). You need a handle to the process, get that from OpenProcess(). You'll need to ask for the PROCESS_TERMINATE access right. CloseHandle() to close the handle.