An exit code is a standard termination status.
In Maya, exit codes are included in a message that is generated when a crash occurs:
maya encountered a fatal error Signal: 11 (Unknown Signal) Result: /users/<username>/maya/projects/Test/scenes/Test1.ma Fatal Error. Attempting to save in /usr/tmp/<username>.20120223.1655.ma // Maya exited with status 139
We can use the following information to decipher exit codes:
Each signal has a number, which is added to 128 to create the number used in the exit code. For example, signal 11 is used in exit code 139.
Signals can arise from within the process itself, or they can be sent to the process by some external agent.