ProcessBuilder

Represents a sequence of one or more external processes that can be executed. A ProcessBuilder can be a single external process, or a combination of other ProcessBuilder. One can control where a the output of an external process will go to, and where its input will come from, or leave that decision to whoever starts it.

One creates a ProcessBuilder through factories provided in scala.sys.process.Process's companion object, or implicit conversions based on these factories made available in the package object scala.sys.process. Here are some examples:

import scala.sys.process._

// Executes "ls" and sends output to stdout
"ls".!

// Execute "ls" and assign a `Stream[String]` of its output to "contents".
val contents = Process("ls").lineStream

// Here we use a `Seq` to make the parameter whitespace-safe
def contentsOf(dir: String): String = Seq("ls", dir).!!

The methods of ProcessBuilder are divided in three categories: the ones that combine two ProcessBuilder to create a third, the ones that redirect input or output of a ProcessBuilder, and the ones that execute the external processes associated with it.

Combining `ProcessBuilder`

Two existing ProcessBuilder can be combined in the following ways:

They can be executed in parallel, with the output of the first being fed as input to the second, like Unix pipes. This is achieved with the #| method.
They can be executed in sequence, with the second starting as soon as the first ends. This is done by the ### method.
The execution of the second one can be conditioned by the return code (exit status) of the first, either only when it's zero, or only when it's not zero. The methods #&& and #|| accomplish these tasks.

Redirecting Input/Output

Though control of input and output can be done when executing the process, there's a few methods that create a new ProcessBuilder with a pre-configured input or output. They are #<, #> and #>>, and may take as input either another ProcessBuilder (like the pipe described above), or something else such as a java.io.File or a java.io.InputStream. For example:

new URL("http://databinder.net/dispatch/About") #> "grep JSON" #>> new File("About_JSON") !

Starting Processes

To execute all external commands associated with a ProcessBuilder, one may use one of four groups of methods. Each of these methods have various overloads and variations to enable further control over the I/O. These methods are:

run: the most general method, it returns a scala.sys.process.Process immediately, and the external command executes concurrently.
!: blocks until all external commands exit, and returns the exit code of the last one in the chain of execution.
!!: blocks until all external commands exit, and returns a String with the output generated.
lineStream: returns immediately like run, and the output being generated is provided through a Stream[String]. Getting the next element of that Stream may block until it becomes available. This method will throw an exception if the return code is different than zero -- if this is not desired, use the lineStream_! method.

Handling Input and Output

If not specified, the input of the external commands executed with run or ! will not be tied to anything, and the output will be redirected to the stdout and stderr of the Scala process. For the methods !! and lineStream, no input will be provided, and the output will be directed according to the semantics of these methods.

Some methods will cause stdin to be used as input. Output can be controlled with a scala.sys.process.ProcessLogger -- !! and lineStream will only redirect error output when passed a ProcessLogger. If one desires full control over input and output, then a scala.sys.process.ProcessIO can be used with run.

For example, we could silence the error output from lineStream_! like this:

val etcFiles = "find /etc" lineStream_! ProcessLogger(line => ())

Extended Example

Let's examine in detail one example of usage:

import scala.sys.process._
"find src -name *.scala -exec grep null {} ;"  #|  "xargs test -z"  #&&  "echo null-free"  #||  "echo null detected"  !

Note that every String is implicitly converted into a ProcessBuilder through the implicits imported from scala.sys.process. These ProcessBuilder are then combined in three different ways.

#| pipes the output of the first command into the input of the second command. It mirrors a shell pipe (|).
#&& conditionally executes the second command if the previous one finished with exit value 0. It mirrors shell's &&.
#|| conditionally executes the third command if the exit value of the previous command is different than zero. It mirrors shell's ||.

Finally, ! at the end executes the commands, and returns the exit value. Whatever is printed will be sent to the Scala process standard output. If we wanted to capture it, we could run that with !! instead.

Note: though it is not shown above, the equivalent of a shell's ; would be ###. The reason for this name is that ; is a reserved token in Scala.

Note: the lines method, though deprecated, may conflict with the StringLike method of the same name. To avoid this, one may wish to call the builders in Process instead of importing scala.sys.process._. The example above would be

import scala.sys.process.Process
Process("find src -name *.scala -exec grep null {} ;") #| Process("xargs test -z") #&& Process("echo null-free") #|| Process("echo null detected") !

Linear Supertypes

Sink, Source, AnyRef, Any

Abstract Value Members

abstract def !(log: ProcessLogger): Int

Starts the process represented by this builder, blocks until it exits, and returns the exit code.
Starts the process represented by this builder, blocks until it exits, and returns the exit code. Standard output and error are sent to the given ProcessLogger.
abstract def !: Int

Starts the process represented by this builder, blocks until it exits, and returns the exit code.
Starts the process represented by this builder, blocks until it exits, and returns the exit code. Standard output and error are sent to the console.
abstract def !!(log: ProcessLogger): String

Starts the process represented by this builder, blocks until it exits, and returns the output as a String.
Starts the process represented by this builder, blocks until it exits, and returns the output as a String. Standard error is sent to the provided ProcessLogger. If the exit code is non-zero, an exception is thrown.
abstract def !!: String

Starts the process represented by this builder, blocks until it exits, and returns the output as a String.
Starts the process represented by this builder, blocks until it exits, and returns the output as a String. Standard error is sent to the console. If the exit code is non-zero, an exception is thrown.
abstract def !!<(log: ProcessLogger): String

Starts the process represented by this builder, blocks until it exits, and returns the output as a String.
Starts the process represented by this builder, blocks until it exits, and returns the output as a String. Standard error is sent to the provided ProcessLogger. If the exit code is non-zero, an exception is thrown. The newly started process reads from standard input of the current process.
abstract def !!<: String

Starts the process represented by this builder, blocks until it exits, and returns the output as a String.
Starts the process represented by this builder, blocks until it exits, and returns the output as a String. Standard error is sent to the console. If the exit code is non-zero, an exception is thrown. The newly started process reads from standard input of the current process.
abstract def !<(log: ProcessLogger): Int

Starts the process represented by this builder, blocks until it exits, and returns the exit code.
Starts the process represented by this builder, blocks until it exits, and returns the exit code. Standard output and error are sent to the given ProcessLogger. The newly started process reads from standard input of the current process.
abstract def !<: Int

Starts the process represented by this builder, blocks until it exits, and returns the exit code.
Starts the process represented by this builder, blocks until it exits, and returns the exit code. Standard output and error are sent to the console. The newly started process reads from standard input of the current process.
abstract def ###(other: ProcessBuilder): ProcessBuilder

Constructs a command that will run this command and then other.
Constructs a command that will run this command and then other. The exit code will be the exit code of other.
abstract def #&&(other: ProcessBuilder): ProcessBuilder

Constructs a command that runs this command first and then other if this command succeeds.
abstract def #|(other: ProcessBuilder): ProcessBuilder

Constructs a command that will run this command and pipes the output to other.
Constructs a command that will run this command and pipes the output to other. other must be a simple command.
abstract def #||(other: ProcessBuilder): ProcessBuilder

Constructs a command that runs this command first and then other if this command does not succeed.
abstract def canPipeTo: Boolean

True if this command can be the target of a pipe.
abstract def hasExitValue: Boolean

True if this command has an exit code which should be propagated to the user.
True if this command has an exit code which should be propagated to the user. Given a pipe between A and B, if B.hasExitValue is true then the exit code will be the one from B; if it is false, the one from A. This exists to prevent output redirections (implemented as pipes) from masking useful process error codes.
abstract def lineStream(log: ProcessLogger): Stream[String]

Starts the process represented by this builder.
Starts the process represented by this builder. The output is returned as a Stream that blocks when lines are not available but the process has not completed. Standard error is sent to the provided ProcessLogger. If the process exits with a non-zero value, the Stream will provide all lines up to termination and then throw an exception.
abstract def lineStream: Stream[String]

Starts the process represented by this builder.
Starts the process represented by this builder. The output is returned as a Stream that blocks when lines are not available but the process has not completed. Standard error is sent to the console. If the process exits with a non-zero value, the Stream will provide all lines up to termination and then throw an exception.
abstract def lineStream_!(log: ProcessLogger): Stream[String]

Starts the process represented by this builder.
Starts the process represented by this builder. The output is returned as a Stream that blocks when lines are not available but the process has not completed. Standard error is sent to the provided ProcessLogger. If the process exits with a non-zero value, the Stream will provide all lines up to termination but will not throw an exception.
abstract def lineStream_!: Stream[String]

Starts the process represented by this builder.
Starts the process represented by this builder. The output is returned as a Stream that blocks when lines are not available but the process has not completed. Standard error is sent to the console. If the process exits with a non-zero value, the Stream will provide all lines up to termination but will not throw an exception.
abstract def run(log: ProcessLogger, connectInput: Boolean): Process

Starts the process represented by this builder, blocks until it exits, and returns the exit code.
Starts the process represented by this builder, blocks until it exits, and returns the exit code. Standard output and error are sent to the given ProcessLogger. The newly started process reads from standard input of the current process if connectInput is true.
abstract def run(connectInput: Boolean): Process

Starts the process represented by this builder.
Starts the process represented by this builder. Standard output and error are sent to the console. The newly started process reads from standard input of the current process if connectInput is true.
abstract def run(io: ProcessIO): Process

Starts the process represented by this builder.
Starts the process represented by this builder. I/O is handled by the given ProcessIO instance.
abstract def run(log: ProcessLogger): Process

Starts the process represented by this builder.
Starts the process represented by this builder. Standard output and error are sent to the given ProcessLogger.
abstract def run(): Process

Starts the process represented by this builder.
Starts the process represented by this builder. Standard output and error are sent to the console.
abstract def toSink: ProcessBuilder

Attributes
protected
Definition Classes
Sink
abstract def toSource: ProcessBuilder

Attributes
protected
Definition Classes
Source

Concrete Value Members

final def !=(arg0: Any): Boolean

Definition Classes
AnyRef → Any
final def ##(): Int

Definition Classes
AnyRef → Any
def #<(b: ProcessBuilder): ProcessBuilder

Reads the output of a scala.sys.process.ProcessBuilder into the input stream of this process.
Reads the output of a scala.sys.process.ProcessBuilder into the input stream of this process.

Definition Classes
Sink
def #<(in: ⇒ InputStream): ProcessBuilder

Reads the given InputStream into the input stream of this process.
Reads the given InputStream into the input stream of this process. The argument is call-by-name, so the stream is recreated, read, and closed each time this process is executed.

Definition Classes
Sink
def #<(f: URL): ProcessBuilder

Reads the given URL into the input stream of this process.
Reads the given URL into the input stream of this process.

Definition Classes
Sink
def #<(f: File): ProcessBuilder

Reads the given file into the input stream of this process.
Reads the given file into the input stream of this process.

Definition Classes
Sink
def #>(b: ProcessBuilder): ProcessBuilder

Writes the output stream of this process to a scala.sys.process.ProcessBuilder.
Writes the output stream of this process to a scala.sys.process.ProcessBuilder.

Definition Classes
Source
def #>(out: ⇒ OutputStream): ProcessBuilder

Writes the output stream of this process to the given OutputStream.
Writes the output stream of this process to the given OutputStream. The argument is call-by-name, so the stream is recreated, written, and closed each time this process is executed.

Definition Classes
Source
def #>(f: File): ProcessBuilder

Writes the output stream of this process to the given file.
Writes the output stream of this process to the given file.

Definition Classes
Source
def #>>(f: File): ProcessBuilder

Appends the output stream of this process to the given file.
Appends the output stream of this process to the given file.

Definition Classes
Source
final def ==(arg0: Any): Boolean

Definition Classes
AnyRef → Any
final def asInstanceOf[T0]: T0

Definition Classes
Any
def cat: ProcessBuilder

Returnes a scala.sys.process.ProcessBuilder representing this Source.
Returnes a scala.sys.process.ProcessBuilder representing this Source.

Definition Classes
Source
def clone(): AnyRef

Attributes
protected[java.lang]
Definition Classes
AnyRef
Annotations
@throws( ... )
final def eq(arg0: AnyRef): Boolean

Definition Classes
AnyRef
def equals(arg0: Any): Boolean

Definition Classes
AnyRef → Any
def finalize(): Unit

Attributes
protected[java.lang]
Definition Classes
AnyRef
Annotations
@throws( classOf[java.lang.Throwable] )
final def getClass(): Class[_]

Definition Classes
AnyRef → Any
def hashCode(): Int

Definition Classes
AnyRef → Any
final def isInstanceOf[T0]: Boolean

Definition Classes
Any
final def ne(arg0: AnyRef): Boolean

Definition Classes
AnyRef
final def notify(): Unit

Definition Classes
AnyRef
final def notifyAll(): Unit

Definition Classes
AnyRef
final def synchronized[T0](arg0: ⇒ T0): T0

Definition Classes
AnyRef
def toString(): String

Definition Classes
AnyRef → Any
final def wait(): Unit

Definition Classes
AnyRef
Annotations
@throws( ... )
final def wait(arg0: Long, arg1: Int): Unit

Definition Classes
AnyRef
Annotations
@throws( ... )
final def wait(arg0: Long): Unit

Definition Classes
AnyRef
Annotations
@throws( ... )

Deprecated Value Members

def lines(log: ProcessLogger): Stream[String]

Deprecated (renamed).
Deprecated (renamed). Use lineStream(log: ProcessLogger) instead.

Annotations
@deprecated
Deprecated
(Since version 2.11.0) Use stream instead.
def lines: Stream[String]

Deprecated (renamed).
Deprecated (renamed). Use lineStream instead.

Annotations
@deprecated
Deprecated
(Since version 2.11.0) Use lineStream instead.
def lines_!(log: ProcessLogger): Stream[String]

Deprecated (renamed).
Deprecated (renamed). Use lineStream_!(log: ProcessLogger) instead.

Annotations
@deprecated
Deprecated
(Since version 2.11.0) Use stream_! instead.
def lines_!: Stream[String]

Deprecated (renamed).
Deprecated (renamed). Use lineStream_! instead.

Annotations
@deprecated
Deprecated
(Since version 2.11.0) Use lineStream_! instead.

Related Docs: object ProcessBuilder | package process

trait ProcessBuilder extends Source with Sink

Combining ProcessBuilder

Redirecting Input/Output

Starting Processes

Handling Input and Output

Extended Example

Abstract Value Members

abstract def !(log: ProcessLogger): Int

abstract def !: Int

abstract def !!(log: ProcessLogger): String

abstract def !!: String

abstract def !!<(log: ProcessLogger): String

abstract def !!<: String

abstract def !<(log: ProcessLogger): Int

abstract def !<: Int

abstract def ###(other: ProcessBuilder): ProcessBuilder

abstract def #&&(other: ProcessBuilder): ProcessBuilder

abstract def #|(other: ProcessBuilder): ProcessBuilder

abstract def #||(other: ProcessBuilder): ProcessBuilder

abstract def canPipeTo: Boolean

abstract def hasExitValue: Boolean

abstract def lineStream(log: ProcessLogger): Stream[String]

abstract def lineStream: Stream[String]

abstract def lineStream_!(log: ProcessLogger): Stream[String]

abstract def lineStream_!: Stream[String]

abstract def run(log: ProcessLogger, connectInput: Boolean): Process

abstract def run(connectInput: Boolean): Process

abstract def run(io: ProcessIO): Process

abstract def run(log: ProcessLogger): Process

abstract def run(): Process

abstract def toSink: ProcessBuilder

abstract def toSource: ProcessBuilder

Concrete Value Members

final def !=(arg0: Any): Boolean

final def ##(): Int

def #<(b: ProcessBuilder): ProcessBuilder

def #<(in: ⇒ InputStream): ProcessBuilder

def #<(f: URL): ProcessBuilder

def #<(f: File): ProcessBuilder

def #>(b: ProcessBuilder): ProcessBuilder

def #>(out: ⇒ OutputStream): ProcessBuilder

def #>(f: File): ProcessBuilder

def #>>(f: File): ProcessBuilder

final def ==(arg0: Any): Boolean

final def asInstanceOf[T0]: T0

def cat: ProcessBuilder

def clone(): AnyRef

final def eq(arg0: AnyRef): Boolean

def equals(arg0: Any): Boolean

def finalize(): Unit

final def getClass(): Class[_]

def hashCode(): Int

final def isInstanceOf[T0]: Boolean

final def ne(arg0: AnyRef): Boolean

final def notify(): Unit

final def notifyAll(): Unit

final def synchronized[T0](arg0: ⇒ T0): T0

def toString(): String

final def wait(): Unit

final def wait(arg0: Long, arg1: Int): Unit

final def wait(arg0: Long): Unit

Deprecated Value Members

def lines(log: ProcessLogger): Stream[String]

def lines: Stream[String]

def lines_!(log: ProcessLogger): Stream[String]

def lines_!: Stream[String]

Inherited from Sink

Inherited from Source

Inherited from AnyRef

Inherited from Any

Ungrouped

Combining `ProcessBuilder`