by_unix

An elegance layer to calling unix commands.

This library provides primitives that allow programmers and users
to embed calls to process_create/3.
The aim is to keep application code clear and succinct.
This is achieved by (a) reducing the call to process_create/3 to its
essential constituents and (b) allowing for term structures in the arguments of the call.

highlights

• unix commands map to simple Prolog terms
• term structures serialisation
• simple capture of invocation output
• recognises Prolog alias directory paths
• single free unix commands callin in systmes that allow . in atoms

This library has been developed and (only) tested on linux systems.
It is likely it will work on MacOS with small modifications.

   ?- @ mkdir( -p, /tmp/test_by_unix ).
   ?- @ cd( /tmp/test_by_unix ).
   ?- @ touch( empty.pl ).
   ?- @ rm( -f, empty.pl ).

installation

On SWIPL It is highly recommended that you install from within SWI using its package manager.
To install simply do:

?- pack_install( by_unix ).

And then load by :
?- [library(by_unix)].

On Yap take the latest .tgz from: unix. Ungzip, untar and copy the prolog/by_unix.pl file into your library system directory.

materials

module documentation: by_unix.html
sources: by_unix

author

Nicos Angelopoulos
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London
December, 2013 - September 2020