sleepfor

sleepfor is a command-line utility designed to pause the execution of a script or program for a specified duration. It is commonly used in shell scripting and batch processing to introduce delays between operations, allowing for system resources to stabilize, external processes to complete, or simply to control the pacing of automated tasks. The tool's primary function is to suspend execution for a set number of seconds.

The basic usage of sleepfor involves specifying the duration of the pause as an argument. For example, typing sleepfor 10 in a terminal will cause the command interpreter to wait for ten seconds before proceeding to the next command. This simple yet effective mechanism makes it invaluable for scenarios where precise timing is required. It can be integrated into scripts to prevent overwhelming a system with too many rapid requests, to wait for a service to start, or to implement retry logic with a delay.

While sleepfor is straightforward, it offers flexibility in defining the pause duration. Users can typically specify fractions of a second, allowing for very fine-grained control. This is particularly useful in performance testing or when interacting with systems that are sensitive to the timing of input. The utility is widely available on most Unix-like operating systems and is a fundamental tool for system administrators and developers alike. Its simplicity ensures it is easy to incorporate into a wide range of automation tasks.