ptrace vs procfs - controlling processes

[borucix]

Hi guys,

the ptrace function allows one process to control the actions of another (like single-stepping, writing to its memory, etc.). However, I have recently read that it is generally better to use procfs for such purposes, it is supposed to be more universal. Is such functionality available in linux's procfs? I am looking for something like the one offered by DragonFly BSD:
http://leaf.dragonflybsd.org/cgi/web-man?command=procfs&section=5

[gentoo_ram]

Yes, Linux contains a /proc filesystem. But it offers different functionality. gdb, the debugger, offers the ability to attach to a remote process and control it if you need to using the 'attach' command in gdb. The /proc filesystem does not offer this functionality.

[borucix]

Thanks. So I'm guessing that ptrace is the only way given by the API to controll processes? Gdb is a debugger, what I need is to write such a "debugger" of my own.