UNIX Shells by Example (4th Edition)

sleep ”suspends execution for some number of seconds

sleep time

sleep suspends execution for time seconds. It is used to execute a command after a certain amount of time.

Example A.50.

1 (sleep 105; command)& 2 (In Script) while true do command sleep 60 done

EXPLANATION

1. After 105 seconds, command is executed. Prompt returns immediately.

2. Enters loop; executes command and sleeps for a minute before entering the loop again.