nice

Overview

The nice command runs a program with modified scheduling priority. It allows you to start a process with a different niceness (priority) value.

Syntax

nice [-n adjustment] command [args]...

Common Options

Option	Description
`-n N`	Add N to niceness (default 10)
`--adjustment=N`	Same as -n N
`-h`	Display help
`-v`	Verbose mode
`--version`	Show version

Nice Values

Range: -20 to 19
Lower values = higher priority
Higher values = lower priority
Default: 0
Only root can set negative values

Key Use Cases

Process prioritization
Resource management
Background tasks
CPU scheduling
Performance optimization

Examples with Explanations

Example 1: Basic Usage

nice command

Run command with increased niceness (+10)

Example 2: Specific Priority

nice -n 15 command

Run command with niceness 15

Example 3: Maximum Priority

sudo nice -n -20 command

Run command with highest priority

Understanding Output

Command output as normal
Error messages for:
- Permission denied
- Invalid adjustment
- Command not found
- Priority range errors

Common Usage Patterns

Lower priority task:
```
nice -n 19 backup.sh
```
Higher priority task:
```
sudo nice -n -10 critical_task
```
Check current nice value:
```
nice
```

Performance Analysis

Priority impact
CPU scheduling
System load effect
Resource allocation
Process behavior

Additional Resources

Best Practices

Use appropriate values
Monitor system impact
Document priorities
Consider dependencies
Regular review

Use Cases

Batch processing
System maintenance
Background services
CPU-intensive tasks
Non-critical operations