processage v0.2

Processage embeds a secret message into a process tree (real/running) and displays the processes in a shuffled table. Re-construct the process family tree to decode the secret message. Update 10/5/24: Created with Python 3.8, compatible with 3.12.

Description

Understanding PIDs and PPIDS was challenging for my students, so I made processage to help with that (and for fun and to help me learn new things, too). The goal was to sort of gamify learning about PIDs and PPIDs.

• Each character in the secret message spawns a new process, which process is parented to the previous character's process.
  • Process names may be set to the ASCII plaintext, binary, or hex representation of each character in the secret message.
• Linux
  • Sets process names on Linux. While active, try:

    ps -e | less
    ps -el | less
    ps -eo %c%p%P | less
    ps -ef # important note: f flag will not show new process names
    

  • To reveal ordered tree with names, try:

    pstree -ap | grep processage
    

• Windows
  • Process names are available in processage and Windows Process Explorer, but not in Task Manager or via wmic. For more info:
    • See setproctitle
    • See Windows Process Explorer
• At close, processage copies the shuffled process tree (game board?) to the clipboard and saves it as csv, html, and markdown.
  • Example output is shown in output.csv, output.md, and output.html.
  • Comment out lines 99-112 to disable saving output.
  • These files could be useful for creating secret message worksheets.
• For fun, try using a shortened url as the secret message.
• Basically, a linked list.

Getting Started

Cloning and Environment Setup

• Linux:

git clone https://github.com/FrozenBurrito/processage.git
cd processage
python -m venv .
source bin/activate
pip install -r requirements.txt

• Windows

git clone https://github.com/FrozenBurrito/processage.git
cd processage
python -m venv .
scripts\activate.bat 
pip install -r requirements.txt

Running processage

python processage.py

Help

Let me know if you have any questions or suggestions.

Authors

J Mo, frozenburrito

Version History

• 0.2
  • Added process name options (ASCII plaintext, binary, or hex)
• 0.1
  • It works!

License

This project is licensed under the MIT License. See the LICENSE.md file for details.

Helpful Libraries

• setproctitle