nice

Run a command with modified priority.

SYNTAX
      nice [+number] [Command [Arg]...]

      nice [-n number] Command [Arg]...

OPTION
      number    Scheduling priority.

                Priority can be adjusted over the range
                of -20 (the highest priority)*
                to 19 (the lowest=less cpu) 

	        The super-user may specify negative priority by using
	       `nice -number ...'.

If no arguments are given, `nice' sets the current scheduling priority for the shell to 4, or if number is given; priority is set to number.

If Command is given, `nice' runs the given Command with its scheduling priority adjusted.

Command is always executed in a sub-shell, and the restrictions placed on commands in simple if statements apply.

* check these figures

Syntax shown above is; firstly the tcsh shell command `nice' and the (very similar) external `nice' utility.

"Work is achieved by those employees who have not yet reached their level of incompetence" - Laurence J. Peter (The Peter Principle)

Related commands:

nohup - Run a command immune to hangups
sleep - Delay for a specified time

Equivalent BASH command:

nice - Run a command with modified priority