multiprocess

Multiprocess refers to the use of two or more processes to perform tasks concurrently or in parallel, typically on systems with multiple CPU cores. In multiprocessing, each process runs in its own isolated address space and has separate resources, which can improve stability and fault isolation compared with shared-memory multithreading.

Processes are created and managed by the operating system. On Unix-like systems, new processes are often created by forking and then executing a program; on Windows, the CreateProcess API serves a similar purpose. To coordinate work and balance load, applications may use separate worker processes or a process pool that reuses a fixed number of processes.

Inter-process communication (IPC) enables data exchange and synchronization between processes. Common IPC mechanisms include pipes, shared memory, message queues, sockets, and higher-level abstractions provided by libraries. Synchronization primitives such as semaphores, mutexes, and events help manage access to shared resources when needed, though true shared memory requires explicit coordination.

Benefits of multiprocess design include improved reliability through process isolation, better use of multi-core hardware, and resilience to individual process failures. Drawbacks include higher overhead from process creation, context switching, and inter-process data transfer, as well as more complex programming models for synchronization and resource management.

Common domains for multiprocess solutions include data processing pipelines, scientific simulations, web servers with multi-process architectures, and distributed or microservice-based systems. Language ecosystems often provide explicit multiprocessing support or libraries, such as separate interpreters or process pools, to bypass limitations that affect single-process performance.