# Module Shell_sys

    module Shell_sys: sig .. end

Calls external programs, creates pipelines, etc. (full interface)

This module is now thread-safe (as of May 2009), provided the threads do no share the same `Shell` or `Shell_sys` values. Problems reported earlier here have been resolved.

If you get errors like "Netsys_posix.watch_subprocess: uninitialized" you should call `Shell_sys.install_job_handlers`.

## Common exceptions

    exception Fatal_error of exn

An error is fatal if it is not possible to recover from it in a predictable manner. In this case, many function wrap such exceptions `x` into `Fatal_error x`.

## Environments

    type environment

The abstract type of a process environment

    val create_env : unit -> environment

Creates an empty environment

    val current_env : unit -> environment

Returns the environment of the current process as abstract environment value

    val copy_env : environment -> environment

Copies an environment

    val set_env : environment -> string array -> unit

Sets the contents of the environment to the passed string array

    val get_env : environment -> string array

Gets the contents of the environment as string array

    val iter_env : f:(string -> unit) -> environment -> unit

Iterates over the strings of the environment, and calls `f s` for every string `s`.

    val set_env_var : environment -> string -> string -> unit

`set_env_var env varname varval`: Sets the value of the variable `varname` in the environment `env` to `varval`.

    val get_env_var : environment -> string -> string

Returns the value of the variable in the environment

    val iter_env_vars : f:(string -> string -> unit) -> environment -> unit

Iterates over the variables of the environment, and calls `f name value` for every variable with `name` and `value`.

## Commands

    type command

A command describes how to start a new process

    val command : ?cmdname:string ->
           ?arguments:string array ->
           ?chdir:string ->
           ?environment:environment ->
           ?descriptors:Unix.file_descr list ->
           ?assignments:(Unix.file_descr * Unix.file_descr) list ->
           filename:string -> unit -> command

Creates a command from the passed arguments:

`cmdname` : The name of the command passed in `argv[0]`. By default, this argument is derived from `filename`.
`arguments` : The arguments of the command (starting with the first real argument, skipping `cmdname`). By default `[]` .
`chdir` : Before the command is executed it is changed to this directory.
`environment` : The environment of the command. By default, the current environment
`descriptors` : The list of file descriptors to share with the current process. In the subprocess only those descriptors remain open that are either mentioned in `descriptors`, or that are the final target of assignments. By default, `[stdin; stdout; stderr]` . Note that only the final targets of assignments remain open in the subprocess (unless they are also listed in `descriptors`). If there are cascaded assignments like `(fd1, fd2); (fd2, fd3)` the intermediate descriptors like `fd2` are not considered as final targets; only `fd3` would be a final target in this example.
`assignments` : A list of descriptor pairs `(fd_from,fd_to)` . The descriptor `fd_from` in the current process will be assigned to `fd_to` in the subprocess started for the command. The list of assignments is executed sequentially, so later assignments must take the effect of previous assignments into account. For example, to make stderr of the subprocess write to stdout of the parent process, pass `[(stdout; stderr)]` .

- By default, there are no assignments.

`filename` : The name of the executable to start. The executable file is not searched, use `Shell_sys.lookup_executable` for this purpose.

    exception Executable_not_found of string

Raised when an executable file cannot be found; the argument is the search name

    val lookup_executable : ?path:string list -> string -> string

Searches an executable file. If the passed search name contains a slash, it is expected that this name is already the path name of the executable. If the search name does not contain a slash character, it is searched in the directories enumerated by the search path.

`path` : The search path. By default, the contents of the variable PATH of the current environment, split by ':', are used (Win32: SearchPath is used)

    val get_cmdname : command -> string

Returns the name of the command

    val get_arguments : command -> string array

Returns the argument array of the command (skipping the command name)

    val get_chdir : command -> string option

Returns the `chdir` parameter of the command

    val get_environment : command -> environment

Returns the designated environment of the command

    val get_descriptors : command -> Unix.file_descr list

Returns the list of active descriptors

    val get_assignments : command -> (Unix.file_descr * Unix.file_descr) list

Returns the list of assignments `(fd_from,fd_to)`

    val get_filename : command -> string

Returns the file name of the executable

    val set_cmdname : command -> string -> unit

Sets the command name

    val set_arguments : command -> string array -> unit

Sets the argument array

    val set_chdir : command -> string option -> unit

Sets the `chdir` parameter of the command

    val set_environment : command -> environment -> unit

Sets the environment

    val set_descriptors : command -> Unix.file_descr list -> unit

Sets the list of active descriptors

    val set_assignments : command -> (Unix.file_descr * Unix.file_descr) list -> unit

Sets the list of assignments `(fd_from,fd_to)`

    val set_filename : command -> string -> unit

Sets the file name of the executable to start

    val copy_command : command -> command

Returns a duplicate of the command description

    val is_executable : command -> bool

Returns `true` if there is an executable file for the command, and it is permitted to run this file (as stated by the file permissions).

`false` means that the command can definitely not be executed. However, even if the function returns `true` there may be still reasons that execution will fail.

## Processes

    type process

A process is the running instance of a command (a Unix process)

    type group_action =

`|` | `New_bg_group` | `(*` | Start process in new background process group | `*)`
`|` | `New_fg_group` | `(*` | Start process in new foreground process group | `*)`
`|` | `Join_group of `int`` | `(*` | Started process joins this existing process group | `*)`
`|` | `Current_group` | `(*` | Started process remains in the current group | `*)`

Determines in which process group the new process will run

    type fwd_mode =

`|` | `No_forward` | `(*` | No forwarding of keyboard signals | `*)`
`|` | `Forward_to_process` | `(*` | Forward signals directly to subprocess | `*)`
`|` | `Forward_to_group` | `(*` | Forward signals to the process group of the subprocess | `*)`

Determines whether and how keyboard signals (SIGINT, SIGQUIT) are forwarded from the caller to the new child. There is no forwarding in Win32 - all console applications get the keyboard signals anyway.

    val run : ?group:group_action ->
           ?forward_mode:fwd_mode ->
           ?pipe_assignments:(Unix.file_descr * Unix.file_descr) list ->
           command -> process

Executes the command concurrently with the current process. The function does not wait until the process terminates; it returns immediately after the `exec` system call has been successfully performed; errors that occur until `exec` are caught and reported as exception (even errors in the fresh subprocess).

On error, one can assume that the process state has been cleaned up: any forked child process has terminated; any modifications of the global process state has been restored.

File descriptor assignments: First, the assignments in `pipe_assignments` are performed, then the assignments contained in the command. The `pipe_assignments` are interpreted as parallel assignment, not as sequential assignment.

Note: For users without very special needs, it is recommended to run jobs instead of processes. See below for the job API.

`group` : Determines in which process group the new process will run. By default `Current_group`.
`forward_mode` : Whether and how to forward keyboard signals to the new child. By default `No_forward`. The Win32 implementation ignores this argument.
`pipe_assignments` : A list of descriptor pairs `(fd_from,fd_to)`. The descriptor `fd_from` in the current process will be assigned to `fd_to` in the started subprocess. In order to take effect, `fd_to` must also be passed in the `descriptors` property of the started command. Furthermore, `fd_from` may or may not be member of `descriptors`; in the first case it will remain open, in the latter case it will be closed. The list of assignments is executed in parallel. For example, to swap the roles of stdout and stderr, pass the list `[(stdout,stderr); (stderr,stdout)]` .

    val process_id : process -> int

Returns the process ID of the process

    val status : process -> Unix.process_status

Reports the status so far known: If the process has terminated, the status of the process is returned. If the process is still running, `Not_found` will be raised.

    val command_of_process : process -> command

Returns the command that is now running as the process

    val call : command -> process

Executes the command and waits until the process terminates (synchronous execution a la `system`, but no intermediate shell). `status` is guaranteed to return WEXITED or WSIGNALED.

    val kill : ?signal:int -> process -> unit

Sends a signal to the passed process.

`signal` : The signal to send, by default SIGTERM

## Jobs

A `job` is the description of how to run several commands which are linked by pipelines (or which are just a logical unit). A `job_instance` is the running instance of a job.

Jobs are implemented on a higher layer than commands; the following means of the operating system are used by job invocations:

- Normally a `job_instance` corresponds to a Unix process group. In this case the last added command will result in the process group leader.
- Controlling the execution of jobs requires that signal handlers are set in many cases (see `install_job_handlers`)
- The processes of jobs are often interconnected by pipelines (see `add_pipeline`).
- It is possible to handle pipelines between the current process and processes of the job (see `add_producer` and `add_consumer`)

Important:

In order to run jobs efficiently (without busy waiting) and properly it is strongly recommended to install the signal handlers using `install_job_handlers`

    type job

    type job_instance

    val new_job : unit -> job

Creates a new job descriptor. Initially the job is empty, but you can fill it with commands (`add_command`), pipelines (`add_pipeline`), consumers (`add_consumer`) and producers (`add_producer`). When the job is set up, you can start it (`run_job`/`finish_job` or `call_job`).

    val add_command : command -> job -> unit

Adds a command to a job.

Note that you cannot add the same command twice; however you can add a copy of a command already belonging to the job.

    val add_pipeline : ?bidirectional:bool ->
           ?src_descr:Unix.file_descr ->
           ?dest_descr:Unix.file_descr ->
           src:command -> dest:command -> job -> unit

Adds a pipeline which redirects the output of the command `src` to the input of the command `dest`.

`bidirectional` : if `false` (default), a classical pipe is created to connect the file descriptors. This normally restricts the data flow to one direction. If `true`, a socketpair is created which is roughly a bidirectional pipe. In this case, data flow in both directions is possible.
`src_descr` : determines the file descriptor of the source command which is redirected. This is by default `stdout`.
`dest_descr` : determines the file descriptor of the destination command to which the data stream is sent. This is by default `stdin`.

    val add_producer : ?descr:Unix.file_descr ->
           producer:(Unix.file_descr -> bool) ->
           command -> job -> unit

Adds a producer to the job. A producer transfers data to the subprocess realizing the passed command. To do so, a pipe is created between the file descriptor `descr` of the subprocess and another descriptor `descr'` which is open in the current process. The function `producer` is called when data can be written into the pipe. The argument of `producer` is the writing end of the pipe `descr'`. This file descriptor is in non-blocking mode. The function `producer` must close `descr'` when all data are transferred. The return value of `producer` indicates whether the descriptor is still open.

`descr` : The descriptor of the subprocess to which the reading end of the pipe is dup'ed. By default `stdin`.

    val from_string : ?pos:int ->
           ?len:int -> ?epipe:(unit -> unit) -> string -> Unix.file_descr -> bool

`from_string ?pos ?len ?epipe s` returns a function which can be used as `producer` argument for `add_producer`. The data transferred to the subprocess is taken from the string `s`. After these data are sent, the pipeline is closed.

`pos` : The position in `s` where the data slice to transfer begins. By default `0`.
`len` : The length of the data slice to transfer. By default, all bytes from the start position `pos` to the end of the string are taken.
`epipe` : This function is called when the pipeline breaks (EPIPE). Default: the empty function. EPIPE exceptions are always caught, and implicitly handled by closing the pipeline.

    val from_tstring : ?pos:int ->
           ?len:int ->
           ?epipe:(unit -> unit) -> Netsys_types.tstring -> Unix.file_descr -> bool

Same for tagged strings

    val from_stream : ?epipe:(unit -> unit) -> string Stdlib.Stream.t -> Unix.file_descr -> bool

`from_stream ?epipe s` returns a function which can be used as `producer` argument for `add_producer`. The data transferred to the subprocess is taken from the string stream `s`. After these data are sent, the pipeline is closed.

`epipe` : This function is called when the pipeline breaks (EPIPE). Default: the empty function. EPIPE exceptions are always caught, and implicitly handled by closing the pipeline.

    val add_consumer : ?descr:Unix.file_descr ->
           consumer:(Unix.file_descr -> bool) ->
           command -> job -> unit

Adds a consumer to the job. A consumer transfers data from the subprocess realizing the passed command to the current process. To do so, a pipe is created between the file descriptor `descr` of the subprocess and another descriptor `descr'` which is open in the current process. The function `consumer` is called when data can be read from the pipe. The argument of `consumer` is reading end of the pipe `descr'`. This file descriptor is in non-blocking mode. The function `consumer` must close `descr'` after EOF is detected. The return value of `consumer` indicates whether the descriptor is still open.

`descr` : The descriptor of the subprocess to which the writing end of the pipe is dup'ed. By default `stdout`.

    val to_buffer : Stdlib.Buffer.t -> Unix.file_descr -> bool

`to_buffer b` returns a function which can be used as `consumer` argument for `add_consumer`. The data received from the subprocess is added to the buffer `b`.

    val to_netbuffer : Netbuffer.t -> Unix.file_descr -> bool

Same for a `Netbuffer`

    type group_mode =

`|` | `Same_as_caller` | `(*` | The job runs in the same process group as the current process | `*)`
`|` | `Foreground` | `(*` | The job runs in a new foreground process group | `*)`
`|` | `Background` | `(*` | The job runs in a new background process group | `*)`

Specifies how the job instance is related to process groups

    val run_job : ?mode:group_mode ->
           ?forward_signals:bool -> job -> job_instance

Invokes the commands of the job such that they run concurrently with the main process.

The function returns a `job_instance`, i.e. a value recording which processes are started, and how they are related. Furthermore, the function has the side effect of adding the job to the global list of current jobs.

The `mode` argument specifies whether a new Unix process group is created for the job instance. A process group has the advantage that it is possible to send signals to all processes of the group at once. For example, one can terminate a group by sending SIGTERM to it: All member processes get the signal. Usually, these are not only the subprocesses initially created, but also further processes started by the initial members.

So if it is necessary to send signals to the processes of the job, it will be advantegous to run it in a new process group. However, this also means that signals sent to the current process group are not automatically forwarded to the created process group. For example, if the current process group is terminated, the job will continue running, because it is member of a different process group. One has to explicitly catch and forward signals to avoid wild-running jobs.

The moral of the story is that one should only create new process groups when it is necessary (e.g. the user must be able to stop an action at any time). Furthermore, signal forwarding must be configured.

The Unix shell also allows the programmer to specify process group handling to a certain extent. Normally, commands are executed in the same process group as the caller. The syntax "command &" forces that the command is run in a new background process group. There is another situation when new process groups are created: when a new interactive shell is started the commands are run in new foreground process groups (so the keyboard signals like CTRL-C work).

`mode` : Specifies the process group handling. By default, the job is executed in the same process group as the current process (`Same_as_caller`). The value `Background` causes that a new background process group is started. The value `Foreground` causes that a new foreground process group is started. For the latter, it is required that there is a controlling terminal (i.e. it does not work for daemons). Any existing foreground process group (there is at most one) is put into the background, but this is not restored when the job is over (the caller must do this). Foreground process groups should be avoided unless you are writing an interactive shell interpreter.
`forward_signals` : If `true`, the default, keyboard signals (SIGINT, SIGQUIT) delivered to the current process are forwarded to the job. This has only a meaning if the job is running as background process group. Furthermore, it is required that `install_job_handlers` has been called to enable signal forwarding. The function returns normally if at least one process could be started. If no process was startable (i.e. the first command was not startable), an exception is raised. If one or more processes could be started but not all, `job_status` will return `Job_partially_running`. The caller should then discard the job and any intermediate result that might already have been produced by the partial job. When all processes could be started and no other exceptional condition happened, the function sets `job_status` to `Job_running`.

    class type ['t] job_handler_engine_type = object .. end

This type of engine also returns the `job` and the `job_instance`.

    class job_engine : Unixqueue.event_system -> job_instance -> [unit] job_handler_engine_type

The `job_engine` watches the job, and looks whether the processes are finished, and if so, it records the process statuses.

    val finish_job : job_instance -> unit

This creates a `job_engine` internally and runs until it is finished, i.e. until the job has been executed.

In previous version of Ocamlnet there was an optional `sys` argument. This is gone now. Also, the error handling is different. It is no longer possible to restart `finish_job` when an error happens.

    val call_job : ?mode:group_mode ->
           ?forward_signals:bool ->
           ?onerror:(job_instance -> unit) ->
           job -> job_instance

Starts the job (see `run_job`) and waits until it finishes (see `finish_job`); i.e. `call_job = run_job + finish_job`. The function returns normally if all processes can be started; you can examine `job_status` of the result to get the information whether all processes returned the exit code 0.

`mode` : See `run_job`
`forward_signals` : See `run_job`
`onerror` : If not all of the processes can be started, the function passed by `onerror` is invoked. By default, this function calls `abandon_job` to stop the already running processes. After the `onerror` function has returned, the original exception is raised again. Fatal error conditions are not caught.

    val processes : job_instance -> process list

Returns the processes that have actually been started for this job by `run_job`; note that the corresponding Unix process group may have additional processes (e.g. indirectly started processes).

    exception No_Unix_process_group

Raised by functions referring to Unix process groups when the job has not been started in its own process group.

    val process_group_leader : job_instance -> process

Returns the process group leader process. This function is not available for jobs in the mode `Same_as_caller`.

    val process_group_id : job_instance -> int

Returns the Unix ID of the process group as number > 1. This function is not available for jobs in the mode `Same_as_caller`.

    type job_status =

`|` | `Job_running` | `(*` | All commands could be started, and at least one process is still running | `*)`
`|` | `Job_partially_running` | `(*` | Not all commands could be started, and at least one process is still running | `*)`
`|` | `Job_ok` | `(*` | all processes terminated with exit code 0 | `*)`
`|` | `Job_error` | `(*` | all processes terminated but some abnormally | `*)`
`|` | `Job_abandoned` | `(*` | the job has been abandoned (see `abandon_job`) | `*)`

Indicates the status of the job

    val job_status : job_instance -> job_status

Returns the status. The status may only change after `finish_job` has been called:

- after `run_job`: status is `Job_running` or `Job_partially_running`
- after `finish_job`: if returning normally: status is `Job_ok` or `Job_error`. After an exception happened the other states are possible, too

    val kill_process_group : ?signal:int -> job_instance -> unit

Kills the process group if it is still (at least partially) running. This operation is not available if the mode is `Same_as_caller` (exception `No_Unix_process_group`).

Note 1: In the Unix terminology, "killing a job" only means to send a signal to the job. So the job may continue running, or it may terminate; in general we do not know this. Because of this, the job will still have an entry in the job list.

Note 2: Because sub-sub-processes are also killed, this function may send the signal to more processes than kill_processes (below). On the other hand, it is possible that sub-processes change their group ID such that it is also possible that this function sends the signal to fewer processes than kill_processes.

`signal` : The signal number to send (O'Caml signal numbers as used by the `Sys` module). Default is `Sys.sigterm`.

    val kill_processes : ?signal:int -> job_instance -> unit

Kills the individual processes of the job which are still running.

`signal` : The signal number to send (O'Caml signal numbers as used by the `Sys` module). Default is `Sys.sigterm`.

    val cancel_job : ?signal:int -> job_instance -> unit

Tries to get rid of a running job. If the mode is `Same_as_caller`, the signal is sent to the processes individually. If the mode is `Foreground` or `Background`, the signal is sent to the process group corresponding to the job.

This function removes the job from the job list; i.e. it is no longer watched. Because of some magic spells it is guaranteed that the job dies immediately without becoming a zombie (provided you have a SIGCHLD handler).

`signal` : The signal number to send (O'Caml signal numbers as used by the `Sys` module). Default is `Sys.sigterm`.

    val abandon_job : ?signal:int -> job_instance -> unit

Deprecated name for `cancel_job`

    exception Already_installed

Raised when the job handlers are already installed

    val configure_job_handlers : ?catch_sigint:bool ->
           ?catch_sigquit:bool ->
           ?catch_sigterm:bool -> ?catch_sighup:bool -> ?at_exit:bool -> unit -> unit

Configures signal and at_exit handlers for jobs:

- The keyboard signals SIGINT and SIGQUIT are forwarded to all jobs which are running in the background (and thus are not automatically notified) and want to get such signals (`forward_signals`).
- The signals SIGTERM and SIGHUP are (if the handler is installed) forwarded to all dependent processes (regardless whether they are running in their own Unix process group or not, and regardless of `forward_signals`).
- The `at_exit` handler sends a SIGTERM to all dependent processes, too.

In previous versions of Ocamlnet it was also possible to configure `catch_sigchld` to set whether a SIGCHLD handler is installed. This is now always done.

In previous versions of Ocamlnet there was also a `set_sigpipe` flag. This flag is gone as a SIGPIPE handler is now always installed.

The handlers are now managed by `Netsys_signal`. The handlers of this module set the `keep_default` flag for SIGINT, SIGQUIT, SIGTERM, and SIGHUP, so that the default action for these signals is executed after the forwarding to the child processes is done. By setting another handler in `Netsys_signal` without that flag this behavior can be overridden.

Note that if an uncaught exception leads to program termination, this situation will not be detected; any running jobs will not be terminated (sorry, this cannot be fixed).

This function sets only which handlers will be installed when `install_job_handlers` (below) is invoked. The function fails if the handlers are already installed.

Win32: No handlers are installed. It would be desirable to some extent that at least `at_exit` is honoured, however, this is not yet done.

`catch_sigint` : whether to install a SIGINT handler (default: `true`)
`catch_sigquit` : whether to install a SIGQUIT handler (default: `true`)
`catch_sigterm` : whether to install a SIGTERM handler (default: `true`)
`catch_sighup` : whether to install a SIGHUP handler (default: `true`)
`at_exit` : whether to set the `at_exit` handler (default: `true`)

    val install_job_handlers : unit -> unit

Installs handlers as configured before. Raises `Already_installed` if the handlers are already installed.

## Removed functions

The functions `add_rd_polling` and `add_wr_polling` have been removed. They were added prior to the merge with the equeue library. Use a Unixqueue now, which is much more powerful.

Also no longer supported because the type `system_handler` is gone:

    type system_handler

     type process_event

    val wait :
          ?wnohang:bool ->                     (* default: false *)
          ?wuntraced:bool ->                   (* default: false *)
          ?restart:bool ->                     (* default: false *)
          ?check_interval:float ->             (* default: 0.1 *)
          ?read:(Unix.file_descr list) ->      (* default: [] *)
          ?write:(Unix.file_descr list) ->     (* default: [] *)
          ?except:(Unix.file_descr list) ->    (* default: [] *)
          process list ->
            process_event list

    val register_job : system_handler -> job_instance -> unit

    val iter_job_instances : f:(job_instance -> unit) ->  unit

    val watch_for_zombies : unit -> unit

    val process_group_expects_signals : job_instance -> bool

## Debugging

    module Debug: sig .. end