Format
shell(Command)
Args
Command: system command to run
Returns
- null on failure to execute command
- exit code of command otherwise
This function is used to run an external program. The syntax of Command depends on the server machine’s operating system. Be sure to redirect input and output to files if there is any. Also realize that the command will fail if the program you try to run is not in the path where the shell expects to find executable files (unless you specify a full path).
Since shell() allows arbitrary access to the system, each call requires authorization from the person hosting the world, unless running in trusted mode. Authorization is only sought when running in Dream Seeker, since Dream Daemon is intended to be non-interactive. Calling shell() with no arguments is a way of checking if it is allowed by the current safety settings. It will return true if running in Dream Seeker (regardless of safety mode) or if running in Dream Daemon in trusted mode.
The calling proc will sleep until the command is finished executing.
mob/verb/dir(Path as text)
shell("dir [Path] > dir.out")
usr << file2text("dir.out")This example displays the output of the “dir” command to the user.