title: Java program to monitor other Java programs
body: <p>I want to write a small admin tool that can start, stop, and monitor other Java non-GUI programs that either run continuously or are expected to complete?  This tool would run on the same server as the backend programs.  I would have a web front end for the administrator to use (probably with Jetty).  I would most likely want the backend programs to run as their own separate processes.</p>
  
  <p>What if I wanted to communicate with those programs, such as query some detailed status?  The backend programs break up their computational work in ticks and between ticks, I could check for commands that come in.</p>