process-cleanup
This skill should be used when the user asks to "find zombies", "kill zombie processes", "clean up zombies", "check for zombie processes", "reap zombies", or mentions zombie process detection, cleanup, or process state monitoring.
- Installs
- 78
- Last 24h
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- Security
- Not audited
Install
Works with every agent the skills CLI supports.
npx skills add https://github.com/paulrberg/agent-skills --skill process-cleanup- 01
Install
Run the command in your project. The CLI asks which agents to install for.
- 02
Describe the task
Ask your agent for something this skill covers. It loads process-cleanup automatically when relevant.
- 03
Review the result
The agent follows the SKILL.md steps, scripts and references bundled with the skill.
SKILL.md
The instructions your agent reads when the skill is triggered.
Process Cleanup
Detect and reap zombie processes using /bin/ps.
Background
A zombie (state Z) is a process that has exited but whose parent hasn't called wait() to collect its exit status. Zombies consume no CPU or memory, but they hold a PID slot and can accumulate. You can't kill a zombie — it's already dead. The only remedies are:
- Signal the parent with
SIGCHLDso it reaps the child - Kill the parent so
init/launchdadopts and reaps the orphan
Important: use ps for process state queries
Always use ps (BSD) for process state queries. If ps is aliased, use /bin/ps to bypass it.
# List zombies
/bin/ps ax -o pid,state,ppid,user,command | awk '$2 ~ /Z/'
# List all processes with state
/bin/ps ax -o pid,state,ppid,etime,args
Usage
Run the helper script to scan for zombies:
# Detect only (default) — list zombie processes
bash scripts/kill-zombies.sh
# Reap zombies — send SIGCHLD to parent processes
bash scripts/kill-zombies.sh --kill
Safety
- Default mode is detect-only — no processes are signaled
- With
--kill, the script sendsSIGCHLDto parent processes (non-destructive nudge to reap) - If a parent ignores
SIGCHLD, the script reports the parent PID — confirm with the user before killing it - Never kill PID 1 (
init/launchd)
FAQ
What does the process-cleanup skill do?
This skill should be used when the user asks to "find zombies", "kill zombie processes", "clean up zombies", "check for zombie processes", "reap zombies", or mentions zombie process detection, cleanup, or process state monitoring.
How do I install process-cleanup?
Run npx skills add https://github.com/paulrberg/agent-skills --skill process-cleanup in your project. The skills CLI detects the agents you use and copies the skill into the right folder. For Claude Code you can also place the skill folder at ~/.claude/skills/process-cleanup/ (personal) or .claude/skills/process-cleanup/ (project).
Which AI agents can use process-cleanup?
Any agent that supports the open Agent Skills format (a folder with a SKILL.md file), including Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, Windsurf, Cline, OpenCode and more.
Is process-cleanup safe to install?
No partner security audit is available yet. Skills can run commands and scripts, so read the SKILL.md and any bundled files before installing.
Who maintains process-cleanup?
It is published by paulrberg in paulrberg/agent-skills. It has 78 recorded installs.
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