title: strace init process (PID 1) in linux
body: <p>The strace <a href="http://linux.die.net/man/1/strace" rel="nofollow">manpage</a> says:</p>
  
  <blockquote>
    <p>On Linux, exciting as it would be, tracing the init process is
    forbidden.</p>
  </blockquote>
  
  <p>I checked the same and it doesn't allow it:</p>
  
  <pre><code>$  strace -p 1
  attach: ptrace(PTRACE_ATTACH, ...): Operation not permitted
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>Why isn't it possible? Even the ptrace manpage says the same about tracing init process. Aren't these tools safe or just that the init process is deemed too special that no other processes (strace/ptrace) can signal it.</p>