Does the Windows Kernel have a read-on-write fork() instruction? -

because posix.1 compliance mandatory goal windows, operating system designed ensure required base system support present allow implementation of posix.1 subsystem (such fork function, implemented in windows executive, , support hard file links in windows file system).

was fork function copy-on-write? if so, still present in recent versions of windows? if so, can called win32 applications (though undocumented api)?

from memory of windows internals, fork copy-on-write implementation. based on way rest of windows memory manager works unusual , surprising else.

i seem recall way fork implemented memory allocations put inside section objects sections duplicated across processes copy on write setting.

unfortunately means can't use in non-posix subsystem process, because need have setup address space contain sections. standard win32 processes don't this.

also, if you're going support fork(), needs support - kernel up. example of system might surprised fork()-ed, consider windowing system. in case? (i assume x11 has answer this, don't know is). since fork()-ing on windows highly unusual thing do, expect process borked if standard win32 process.