C Shell's syntax: nice [+|-][n] . +n adds n to the priority value (lower
job priority), while -n subtracts n from the priority value. Priority
range is -20 to 20.
Standalone nice syntax: nice -n , where n is -20 (highest) to 19 (lowest).
Unlike C Shell's nice, n is absolute. Only the superuser can specify
negative values.
This totally confused me the first time I used nice, because 'man nice'
showed the standalone syntax only. I was using csh, and kept running
jobs with 'nice -19', and thought the processes were on low priority.
Took me a while to figure out why I was charged more (had to pay real
money for CPU time at my Alma Mater).
Johnnie Leung
<jleung@vcn.bc.ca>