Process start
The moment the OS creates a process and begins executing an executable with a specific identity, environment, and I/O setup.
Definition
Process start is when the OS creates a new process and begins executing an executable within it.
What’s decided at start time
At start, the runtime environment becomes concrete for that process:
- identity and permissions (user/group, sandboxing)
- environment variables and arguments
- working directory and filesystem view
- inherited file descriptors (stdout/stderr, network sockets, pipes)
These details often explain why the same artifact behaves differently across environments.