p---preserve-status Verified current stable Not installed? System Operations

P Preserve Status / Preserve Exit Status On Timeout

Preserve Exit Status On Timeout

Preserves the exit status of commands after a timeout.

$
Terminal
timeout -p <1s|1m|1h|1d|...> <command>

When To Use

In environments where subsequent commands depend on the exit status of time-limited operations

Pro Tip

Integrate with CI/CD pipelines to maintain accurate feedback on success or failure states.

Command Builder

Tune the command before you copy it

Back to syntax
$
Generated Command
timeout -p <1s|1m|1h|1d|...> <command>

Anatomy of Output

Understanding the result

Command executed successfully before timeout: exit code 0 Execution Info

Reflects the successful completion of the command.

Timeout process completed gracefully Completion Message

Confirms successful operation and completion.

Final exit status preserved: 0 Exit Status

Indicates the outcome of command execution.

Power User Variants

Optimized versions

p---preserve-status sleep 2

Preserves exit code of the command even if it times out.

p---preserve-status timeout 10s some_other_command

Parentheses preserve exit status through timeout.

Troubleshooting

Common pitfalls

timeout: command failed to execute

Solution: Check command syntax and environment compatibility.

timeout: invalid duration specified

Solution: Ensure the duration format adheres to required standards.

timeout: unable to preserve status

Solution: Investigate environment factors preventing exit status capture.

Command Breakdown

What each part is doing

timeout
Base Command
The executable that performs this operation. Here it runs P Preserve Status before the shell applies any redirect operators.
-p
p| preserve status
The value supplied for p| preserve status.
<1s|1m|1h|1d|...>
1s|1m|1h|1d|...
The value supplied for 1s|1m|1h|1d|....
<command>
command
The value supplied for command.
-p
Command Option
Tool-specific option used by this command invocation.

Alternative Approaches

Comparable commands in other tools

Alternative system operations tools for the same job.