The ps command - process showing up even after application is shut down

Linux and Unix-Like UNIX and Linux Applications
1

Hi all,

I'm very new to unix, I'm developing an application in Java, part of which requires me to check if a certain application is still running. In windows, I just use tasklist - if the application has been shut down it won't appear in the task list. I've been trying to use the ps command to try to achieve a simlar result but what I've found is that even after this application has been shut down, the ps command will list it :confused:.

Does anyone have any ideas about how I might be able to see if a particular application is running?

Thanks

Katie

EDIT: OK I've realised that the reason ps still shows the application is because its in the dock. How can I exclude processes open in the dock? Or can I?