<html><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=ANSI_X3.4-1968"><title>Chapter 2. Operating System Interface</title><link rel="stylesheet" href="ecl.css" type="text/css"><meta name="generator" content="DocBook XSL Stylesheets V1.75.2"><link rel="home" href="index.html" title="The ECL manual"><link rel="up" href="pt02.html" title="Part II. Extensions and libraries"><link rel="prev" href="ch16s04.html" title="1.4. ASDF Reference"><link rel="next" href="ch17s02.html" title="2.2. Command line arguments"></head><body bgcolor="white" text="black" link="#0000FF" vlink="#840084" alink="#0000FF"><div class="navheader"><table width="100%" summary="Navigation header"><tr><th colspan="3" align="center">Chapter 2. Operating System Interface</th></tr><tr><td width="20%" align="left"><a accesskey="p" href="ch16s04.html">Prev</a> </td><th width="60%" align="center">Part II. Extensions and libraries</th><td width="20%" align="right"> <a accesskey="n" href="ch17s02.html">Next</a></td></tr></table><hr></div><div class="chapter" title="Chapter 2. Operating System Interface"><div class="titlepage"><div><div><h2 class="title"><a name="ext.os"></a>Chapter 2. Operating System Interface</h2></div></div></div><div class="toc"><dl><dt><span class="section"><a href="ch17.html#ext.os.processes">2.1. Processes</a></span></dt><dt><span class="section"><a href="ch17s02.html">2.2. Command line arguments</a></span></dt><dt><span class="section"><a href="ch17s03.html">2.3. OS Reference</a></span></dt><dd><dl><dt><span class="refentrytitle"><a href="re05.html"><code class="varname">ext:*help-message*</code></a></span><span class="refpurpose"> — Command line help message</span></dt><dt><span class="refentrytitle"><a href="re06.html"><code class="varname">ext:*lisp-init-file-list*</code></a></span><span class="refpurpose"> — <span class="application">ECL</span> initialization files.</span></dt><dt><span class="refentrytitle"><a href="re07.html"><code class="varname">ext:+default-command-arg-rules+</code></a></span><span class="refpurpose"> — <span class="application">ECL</span> command line options</span></dt><dt><span class="refentrytitle"><a href="re08.html"><code class="function">ext:command-args</code></a></span><span class="refpurpose"> — List of command line arguments.</span></dt><dt><span class="refentrytitle"><a href="re09.html"><code class="function">ext:process-command-args</code></a></span><span class="refpurpose"> — Process command line arguments.</span></dt><dt><span class="refentrytitle"><a href="re10.html"><code class="function">ext:quit</code></a></span><span class="refpurpose"> — Exit <span class="application">ECL</span>.</span></dt><dt><span class="refentrytitle"><a href="re11.html"><code class="function">ext:run-program</code></a></span><span class="refpurpose"> — Start and communicate with a child process.</span></dt><dt><span class="refentrytitle"><a href="re12.html"><code class="function">ext:system</code></a></span><span class="refpurpose"> — Invoke a command using the shell.</span></dt></dl></dd></dl></div><div class="section" title="2.1. Processes"><div class="titlepage"><div><div><h2 class="title" style="clear: both"><a name="ext.os.processes"></a>2.1. Processes</h2></div></div></div><p><span class="application">ECL</span> provides several facilities for invoking and communicating with external processes. If one just wishes to execute some program, without caring for its output, then probably <a class="xref" href="re12.html" title="ext:system"><code class="function">ext:system</code></a> is the best function. In all other cases it is preferable to use <a class="xref" href="re11.html" title="ext:run-program"><code class="function">ext:run-program</code></a>, which opens pipes to communicate with the program and manipulate it while it runs on the background.</p></div></div><div class="navfooter"><hr><table width="100%" summary="Navigation footer"><tr><td width="40%" align="left"><a accesskey="p" href="ch16s04.html">Prev</a> </td><td width="20%" align="center"><a accesskey="u" href="pt02.html">Up</a></td><td width="40%" align="right"> <a accesskey="n" href="ch17s02.html">Next</a></td></tr><tr><td width="40%" align="left" valign="top">1.4. ASDF Reference </td><td width="20%" align="center"><a accesskey="h" href="index.html">Home</a></td><td width="40%" align="right" valign="top"> 2.2. Command line arguments</td></tr></table></div></body></html>
