>> >> maybe chfn needs an alarm to wake it up in case of only the vi process
>> >> being killed?
>> >
>> >wait() works just fine.
>> 
>> i think you missed the original thrust of the discussion.  wait() will
>> not work when chfn has been suspende, and its child (the editor) has
>> been killed.  i was suggesting that chfn wake up and notice that the
>> editor has been killed and then release its password database lock.
>
>How do you propose to wake chfn up if it is stopped? SIGALRM won't be
>delivered, either.

yes, you're right.  that part of my brain was stopped and the alarm
when i typed stupid things didn't wake it up.  :)

see my previous followup...

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