bash script code inside C program

Question

my problem is the following: I have this bash script:

#!/bin/bash

 IFSBAK=$IFS
 if [ "$TXTEXT" = "" ]; 
 then
   CMD="find . -iname \"*.txt\" -or -iname \"*.text\""
 else
CMDTEMP="find . "
IFS=":"
for i in $TXTEXT
do
    CMDTEMP="${CMDTEMP} -iname \"*.${i}\" -or"
done
IFS=$IFSBAK
CMD=${CMDTEMP%-or}
 fi

 FILES=$(eval $CMD)
 OUTPUT=$1

 for f in $FILES
 do
VAR=$(grep -ae [a-zA-Z0-9] "$f" | tr -cs "[:alnum:]" "\n")
IFS=$' \n\t-?=!*][.\",();\'\`\´:'   
for v in $VAR
do
    echo $v >> "${OUTPUT}"
done
IFS=$' \n\t'
 done

and I need to insert this code inside a C program. I've tried to re-write the all script on a single line testing it directly with the shell and it works, but I'm having problems with quotes and escaping trying to use it as a parameter of the system() call. Can you suggest me a way out?

Thank you for your help

seems like a mighty bad idea to insert that much shell code into binary — Anycorn
– Anycorn, Commented Apr 1, 2011 at 18:37
+1 @Anycom - anytime you think you need to do something like embed a 30 line shell script in your program, you need to rethink your design. — Carl Norum
– Carl Norum, Commented Apr 1, 2011 at 18:38
i already know it's an horrible thing to do, but i am forced to do it as requested. thank you anyway — Peter
– Peter, Commented Apr 1, 2011 at 18:47
How exactly are you forced to do this? Is the requirement really that absolute and specific, or is it indirect? There might be other ways, depending... — Cascabel
– Cascabel, Commented Apr 1, 2011 at 19:42

otto · Accepted Answer · 2011-04-01 18:54:20Z

4

If you really have no choice but to deliver a single binary and you cannot ship the shell script file with the binary consider the following:

Include the contents of the script in a single literal
During execution of the program, print the contents of the literal to a temporary file. You probably need some strategy to come up with a unique filename.
Call the temporary script through system() call
Delete the temporary file

However, consider this as a last resort.

answered Apr 1, 2011 at 18:54

otto

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Comments

Chris Eberle · Accepted Answer · 2011-04-01 18:38:59Z

3

Put it into a shell script and invoke the shell script from your C code. Much easier to maintain IMHO.

answered Apr 1, 2011 at 18:38

Chris Eberle

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2 Comments

Ankur Agarwal Over a year ago

How would you access functions in a Linux shell script from C code?

Chris Eberle Over a year ago

@abc You can't. You call the shell script as an external executable and then read the output.

eemmrrkk · Accepted Answer · 2015-03-03 00:58:34Z

1

#define SHELLSCRIPT "
...
write your shell script code here
...
"



   int main()
    {

        system(SHELLSCRIPT);
        return 0;
        //put the bash to C program 
    }

answered Mar 3, 2015 at 0:58

eemmrrkk

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