= wait_pid This provides a ruby library WaitPid.wait_pid pid_number # waits until that process exits and also a binary command $ wait_pid pid_number # waits until that process exits Currently it just polls 100 times/s to see if the process is still around. If more granularity is needed let me know [it is possible, at least in windows, or a higher polling capability could be made optional in linux]. Enjoy. Feedback welcome. http://github.com/rdp/wait_pid