SYSTEM(3)                   BSD 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'').

BSDI BSD/386                    March 26, 1993                               1