SYSTEM(3) MachTen Programmer’s Manual SYSTEM(3)

NAME
system - pass a command to the shell

SYNOPSIS
#include <stdlib.h>

int
system(const char *string)

DESCRIPTION
The system() function hands the argument string to the command inter-
preter sh(1). The calling process waits for the shell to finish execut-
ing the command, ignoring SIGINT and SIGQUIT, and blocking SIGCHLD.

If string is a NULL pointer, system() will return non-zero if the command
interpreter sh(1) is available, and zero if it is not.

The system() function returns the exit status of the shell, or -1 if the
wait(3) for the shell failed. A return value of 127 means the execution
of the shell failed.

SEE ALSO
sh(1), execve(2), wait(2), popen(3)

STANDARDS
The system() function conforms to ANSI C3.159-1989 (‘‘ANSI C’’).

4.4BSD June 4, 1993 1