gistfile1.rb

current_path = "C:/foo"

execute ::File.join(current_path, "start_my_thing.bat") do
  only_if {
    node[:my_thing][:running]
  }
end

# [2013-05-01T17:30:12-07:00] INFO: execute[C:/foo/start_my_thing.bat] ran successfully
# MyThing.exe in Task Manager
# Chef Run ends -> MyThing.exe process dies.

ruby_block "start the thing" do
  block do
    Process.create(
      app_name: ::File.join(current_path, "foo", "MyThing.exe"),
      creation_flags: Process::DETACHED_PROCESS | Process::CREATE_BREAKAWAY_FROM_JOB,
      cwd: ::File.join(current_path, "foo")
    )
  end
end