How to change variables in a running program?

Question

For example I have a vector in my c++ program:

vector<string> files;

And this program is already running.

I want to invoke my other program to dynamically add a string to files vector (in already running program).

Should I make a client-server application on localhost for that?
Or are there other methods? (how to send message with params to the running program)

Answer 1

I can't give a great answer because I'm not experienced, but these are a few of the things I'm planning to look into:

• Boost.ASIO
• Boost.interprocess
• YAMI
• TCP or Unix sockets on the local host.
• File watching

Maybe something in there will be useful for you. Interprocess communication is the term you want to search for (IPC).

Answer 2

There are quite a few ways to do this. Google for Inter process communication. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inter-process_communication

On Windows I would use something like that: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/aa366551(v=vs.85).aspx

Or just a temporary file if I you want to be quick and dirty about it.