# Ordinary Daemon

This is a simple UNIX daemon implemented in C that logs uptime and signal statistics to both a file and syslog.

## Features

- Runs as a background daemon process.
- Handles the following signals:
  - **SIGUSR1** — increments an internal counter and triggers logging.
  - **SIGALRM** — triggers logging and re-arms itself every 300 seconds.
- Logs:
  - Time elapsed since the daemon started.
  - PID of the daemon process.
  - Number of `SIGUSR1` signals received.
- Writes logs to:
  - `/tmp/ordinary_daemon.log` (text file)
  - System log (via `syslog` with facility `LOG_USER`).
- Detaches from the terminal, redirects standard streams to `/dev/null`.
- Double-fork daemonization to ensure it is fully detached from the controlling terminal.

## How It Works

1. On startup, the process daemonizes itself:
    - Closes standard file descriptors.
    - Changes working directory to `/`.
    - Creates a new session (`setsid()`).
    - Forks twice to prevent acquiring a controlling terminal.
2. Opens `/tmp/ordinary_daemon.log` for writing.
3. Sets up signal handlers for `SIGUSR1` and `SIGALRM`.
4. Starts a 300-second alarm to trigger periodic logging.
5. Waits in an infinite loop (`pause()`), writing logs when a signal is received.

## Usage

Compile:

```bash
git clone https://git.scratko.xyz/typical-daemon-process
cd typical-daemon-process
gcc -o ordinary_daemon daemon.c
```
Run:
```bash
./ordinary_daemon
```
Send signals:
```bash
kill -USR1 <pid>  # increment counter and log immediately
kill -ALRM <pid>  # log immediately and restart 300s timer
```
View log file:
```bash
cat /tmp/ordinary_daemon.log
```

View syslog output (example for systemd-based systems):
```bash
journalctl -t "ordinary daemon"
```

## Example Log Entry
time spent (in sec): 120.50 pid: 12345 SIGUSR1: 3