Transferring data between executables

c++ windows process data-sharing
Ben Hymers picture Ben Hymers · Feb 7, 2013 · Viewed 7k times · Source

I have two executables written in C++ on Windows. I generate some data in one, and want to call the other executable to process this data. I could write the data out to a file then read it in the other executable, but that seems rather expensive in terms of disk I/O. What is a better way of doing this? It seems like a simple enough question but google just isn't helping!

Let's say the data is around 100MB, and is generated in its entirety before needing to be sent (i.e. no streaming is needed).

Answers that work when mixing 32 bit and 64 bit processes gain bonus points.

Answer

MSalters picture MSalters · Feb 7, 2013

If your processes can easily write to and read from file, just go ahead. Create the file with CreateFile and mark it as temporary & shareable. Windows uses this hint to delay physical writes, but all file semantics are still obeyed. Since your file is only 100 MB and actively in use, Windows is almost certainly able to keep its contents fully in RAM.

Related questions

C++, How to determine if a Windows Process is running?

This is concerning Windows XP processes. I have a process running, let's call it Process1. Process1 creates a new process, Process2, and saves its id. Now, at some point Process1 wants Process2 to do something, so it first needs to …

Read More
C++ TerminateProcess function

I've been searching examples for the Win32 API C++ function TerminateProcess() but couldn't find any. I'm not that familiar with the Win32 API in general and so I wanted to ask if someone here who is better in it than …

Read More
How to get the starting/base address of a process in C++?

I'm testing this whole base/static pointer thing by using it on Microsoft's Spider Solitaire. So I got the base pointer of the amount of "moves" the player has used, and cheat engine tells me it's "SpiderSolitaire.exe+B5F78". …

Read More