Windows start /b equivalent in Linux
Starts a command without blocking the shell from accepting additional input.
start /b
command &
command &
command &
Overview
What this command does
On Windows, "start /b" is used to run a command in the background. On Linux, the closest practical mapping shown here is "command &". Starts a command without blocking the shell from accepting additional input. This reference is grouped under Services & Processes → Processes.
Windows → Linux context
What changes when you use this on Linux?
Equivalent task, different tool
Windows start /b maps to command & for this task. Treat this as a workflow mapping rather than a character-for-character syntax translation.
Portable across the compared distros
The Debian/Ubuntu, Fedora and Arch rows use the same command in this mapping. Package availability or defaults can still vary, so check the installed tool version when an option behaves differently.
For the broader concept behind this mapping, read Linux services and processes.
Practical tasks
Common use cases
Run a command in the background
Starts a command without blocking the shell from accepting additional input.
long-command &
Start a background job
jobs
List background jobs
fg %1
Bring job 1 to the foreground
Ready to run
Copyable Linux commands
Review paths, device names, package names and permissions before running any command.
long-command &
jobs
fg %1
Walkthrough
Examples with explanations
long-command & # start a background job
jobs # list jobs in the current shell
fg %1 # return a job to the foregroundReference
Common options and variations
| Command or option | Use |
|---|---|
long-command & | Start a background job |
jobs | List background jobs |
fg %1 | Bring job 1 to the foreground |
Distro differences
Debian/Ubuntu vs Fedora vs Arch
Debian/Ubuntu, Fedora and Arch all use "command &" for this mapping. The command syntax shown here is portable across the three rows, although installed versions and system defaults can still vary.
| Distribution | Package manager / base | Equivalent command | Difference to notice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian/Ubuntu | same command | command & |
Same command on this distribution. |
| Fedora | same command | command & |
Same command on this distribution. |
| Arch | same command | command & |
Same command on this distribution. |
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