Obj-C Question

[cfleck]

How can I execute a system command from a obj-c program? I just want to be able to execute something like 'ls -l'. I can't find anything to help me out with this. Ideas?

 

[Viro]

Use the command system("ls -l"). It comes from the stdlib.h file, and for more info look it up in the man pages.

 

[kainjow]

system() isn't the recommended way if you're dealing with Cocoa. The best way is to use NSTask:

NSTask *task = [NSTask launchedTaskWithLaunchPath:@"/bin/ls" arguments:[NSArray arrayWithObject:@"l"]];

 

[Viro]

Question about NSTask. Is it portable? On systems other than Mac OS X?

 

[kainjow]

No, NSTask is part of the Cocoa API, which exists only on Mac OS X, and systems that have the GNUstep framework installed.

 

[cfleck]

Ok, almost there. The "system" call is what I need for at least part of it.

I think I need NSTask for some other goodness. Is NSTask the only way I can go about getting the output from said system command?