[NTLUG:Discuss] PID of program started from bash?

[Kevin Brannen]

Jack Snodgrass wrote:

>how do you get the PID of a program that you start from a bash script? 
>
>i.e. I do something like
>#!/bin/bash
>/usr/sbin/fingerd &
>#what do you set what to do be the pid of the new fingered server? 
>echo $what
>
>  
>

echo $!

 From the man page:

   Special Parameters
       The  shell  treats  several  parameters  specially.  These
       parameters may only be referenced; assignment to  them  is
       not allowed.

       !      Expands to the process ID of the most recently exe-­
              cuted background (asynchronous) command.