#!/usr/bin/perl
###########################################
# Interrupt a busy process in intervals
# Mike Schilli, 2002 (m@perlmeister.com)
###########################################
use warnings;
use strict;

use Inline "C";

$SIG{VTALRM} = sub {
    print "Just checking!\n";
};

interval_set(10, 0, 0, 250000);

while(1) {
    # Crunch, crunch!
}

__END__
__C__

#include <sys/time.h> 

/* ##################################### */
void interval_set( 
    long secs, long usecs, 
    long isecs, long iusecs
){
/* ##################################### */
    struct itimerval timer; 

    timer.it_value.tv_sec     = secs;
    timer.it_value.tv_usec    = usecs;
    timer.it_interval.tv_sec  = isecs;
    timer.it_interval.tv_usec = iusecs;

    setitimer (ITIMER_VIRTUAL, 
               &timer, NULL); 
}