timeout

Run a command with a time limit. More information: https://www.gnu.org/software/coreutils/manual/html_node/timeout-invocation.html.

• Run sleep 10 and terminate it after 3 seconds:

timeout 3s sleep 10

• Send a [s]ignal to the command after the time limit expires (TERM by default, kill -l to list all signals):

timeout --signal INT|HUP|KILL|… 5s sleep 10

• Send [v]erbose output to stderr showing signal sent upon timeout:

timeout --verbose 0.5s|1m|1h|1d|… command

• Preserve the exit status of the command regardless of timing out:

timeout --preserve-status 1s|1m|1h|1d|… command

• Send a forceful KILL signal after certain duration if the command ignores initial signal upon timeout:

timeout --kill-after=5m 30s command