How can I tell if given process is alive?

Programming Tips - How can I tell if given process is alive?

Date: 2008dec29 OS: Linux Language: bash Q. How can I tell if given process is alive? A. Use the -p option of ps like this:

MYPID=1234 if ps -p $MYPID >/dev/null; then echo alive else echo not-alive fi

I read about this in Linux Journal.