How do I run a Shell Script/shell commands within C++?

[lazyrussian]

Hi,

I'm somewhat of a beginner at C++ (only been around OOP for 6 months or so now - started with Java).

Anyway, with that being said, I hope someone can write a simplified answer to my problem or point me to a page with an answer for this.

Problem: I need to have C++ script execute a set of shell commands (tcsh and/or bash environment) on a machine running Ubuntu or Fedora Core.

The user will launch a graphical interface (written in C++) from the shell, and within there, he/she will utilize an option that performs a task within the shell, using shell commands.

So I need to program this new option in C++ (to incorporate it into the C++ GUI system), but the commands I want to run need to be written in shell script.

Thanks in advance for any and all help!

[bnbertha]

To start a new process off you would usually use a fork() followed by one of the exec() family of calls.

I should point out that most shell commands have a 'C' code API equivalent. There are very few occasions when something cannot be done in C/C++.

[Duthomhas]

Much as I hate language war threads... If you are just starting you might want to check out Tcl/Tk. It is designed specifically to do the kinds of things you want to do. http://wiki.tcl.tk/ Chances are it is already available on your system and your customers' systems.

If you are already bound to C++ then ignore me. :-)

[lazyrussian]

Thank you both for the reply. I ended up getting most of my goals achieved witht he System() command function :)

Now, I have a new problem that arose.

So, via the shell (and within my C++ script) I need to launch ROOT (C++ Framework for Physicists) and run a few commands in ROOT. I can launch root just fine with system(root), but how do I run root-specific commands through my C++ program - is it possible?

Thanks!

[Duthomhas]

Google "popen". Good luck!

[lazyrussian]

Thanks for all your help!

[lipune]

How we write code of ipc ,socket and thread with c++ as all the ipc mechanisim are written with c language code,how we mix up c++ with ipc,socket,thread.