## Built-in generic tools

This page describes the built-in generic tools:

- app

- exec

- tooldef

### app tool

    tool int app(string? plugin, string classname, string... args,        string stdin = "-", string stdout = "-", string stderr = "-", bool appendOut = false, bool appendErr = false, bool errToOut = false, bool ignoreNonZeroExitCode = false)
    tool int app(string? plugin, string classname, list string args = [], string stdin = "-", string stdout = "-", string stderr = "-", bool appendOut = false, bool appendErr = false, bool errToOut = false, bool ignoreNonZeroExitCode = false)

Executes an application framework application.

The application is specified as a Java class that extends the `org.eclipse.escet.common.app.framework.Application` class. It should have a constructor that accepts one parameter, of type `org.eclipse.escet.common.app.framework.io.AppStreams`.

The application is started within the current Java interpreter, in a new thread. If executed from an OSGi environment, such an application based on the Eclipse IDE, the class is loaded using the class loader of the given bundle (if provided), otherwise, it is loaded using the default class loader. In the latter case, the class should be in the class path.

Note that this tool is only machine independent and platform independent, as long as the applications that are executed, are machine independent and platform independent as well.

Parameters

`plugin`

  The name of the plug-in (OSGi bundle) in which to resolve the application class. If the Java application is executed from an Eclipse-based IDE, then the class is loaded by the class loader of this bundle, otherwise it is resolved using the default class loader. May be `null` to always use the default class loader.

`classname`

  The absolute name of the Java class to execute as application.

`args`

  The command line arguments of the application to execute. Each argument string is parsed to zero or more actual arguments. It is possible to use a single string with all arguments (where the arguments themselves are separated by spaces), comma separated strings for each of the arguments (each string has one argument), or a mix of those.

  In argument strings, individual arguments are separated by whitespace (spaces, tabs, new lines, etc). The whitespace itself is ignored, and only serves as separation. To include whitespace in an argument, the argument (or a part of it), may be quoted, by putting it between double quotes (`"`) or single quotes (`'`). Characters may be escaped by prefixing them with a backslash (`\`). This is particularly useful for single/double quotes, and escape characters, and can also be used to escape spaces. Escapes work the same inside of quoted parts as they do outside of quoted parts.

`stdin`

  Specify whether to have a standard input (stdin) stream and where the input comes from. Use `""` to not have a stdin stream, `"-"` to use the stdin stream of the ToolDef interpreter, or otherwise an absolute or relative local file system path of the file from which to read the standard input. May contain both `\` and `/` as file separators.

`stdout`

  Specify whether to have a standard output (stdout) stream and where to write the standard output. Use `""` to not have a stdout stream, `"-"` to use the stdout stream of the ToolDef interpreter, or otherwise an absolute or relative local file system path of the file to which to write the standard output. May contain both `\` and `/` as file separators.

`stderr`

  Specify whether to have a standard error (stderr) stream and where to write the standard error output. Use `""` to not have a stderr stream, `"-"` to use the stderr stream of the ToolDef interpreter, or otherwise an absolute or relative local file system path of the file to which to write the standard error output. May contain both `\` and `/` as file separators. Is ignored when the standard error stream is redirected to the standard output stream.

`appendOut`

  Whether to append to the stdout file (`true`) or overwrite it (`false`). Is ignored when standard output is not written to a file.

`appendErr`

  Whether to append to the stderr file (`true`) or overwrite it (`false`). Is ignored if standard error output is not written to a file. Is also ignored when standard error stream is redirected to the standard output stream.

`errToOut`

  Whether to redirect the standard error stream to the standard output stream (`true`) or use separate streams (`false`).

`ignoreNonZeroExitCode`

  Whether to ignore non-zero exit codes (`true`) or consider them as errors (`false`).

Returns

The application exit code. See the application framework documentation for a description of the exit codes.

Runtime errors

- If the class loader can not be obtained.

- If the class can not be found or loaded.

- If the class is not an application framework application.

- If an appropriate constructor is not available.

- If an instance of the application class can not be constructed.

- If parsing of the command line arguments fails.

- If the application fails to execute due to its thread being interrupted.

- If the application exits with a non-zero exit code and non-zero exit codes are not ignored.

### exec tool

    tool int exec(string cmd, string... args,        string stdin = "", string stdout = "-", string stderr = "-", bool appendOut = false, bool appendErr = false, bool errToOut = false, bool ignoreNonZeroExitCode = false)
    tool int exec(string cmd, list string args = [], string stdin = "", string stdout = "-", string stderr = "-", bool appendOut = false, bool appendErr = false, bool errToOut = false, bool ignoreNonZeroExitCode = false)

Executes a system command or external application as a sub process.

This tool should be avoided if possible, as it is in general not guaranteed to be cross platform and machine independent. Commands and external applications may not be available on all systems, or may have different behavior on different systems.

Parameters

`cmd`

  The name of the command or the absolute or relative local file system path of the external application to execute, using platform specific new line characters.

`args`

  The command line arguments of the command or external application to execute. Each argument string is parsed to zero or more actual arguments. It is possible to use a single string with all arguments (where the arguments themselves are separated by spaces), comma separated strings for each of the arguments (each string has one argument), or a mix of those.

  In argument strings, individual arguments are separated by whitespace (spaces, tabs, new lines, etc). The whitespace itself is ignored, and only serves as separation. To include whitespace in an argument, the argument (or a part of it), may be quoted, by putting it between double quotes (`"`) or single quotes (`'`). Characters may be escaped by prefixing them with a backslash (`\`). This is particularly useful for single/double quotes, and escape characters, and can also be used to escape spaces. Escapes work the same inside of quoted parts as they do outside of quoted parts.

`stdin`

  Specify whether to have a standard input (stdin) stream and where the input comes from. Use `""` to not have a stdin stream, `"-"` to use the stdin stream of the ToolDef interpreter, or otherwise an absolute or relative local file system path of the file from which to read the standard input. May contain both `\` and `/` as file separators.

`stdout`

  Specify whether to have a standard output (stdout) stream and where to write the standard output. Use `""` to not have a stdout stream, `"-"` to use the stdout stream of the ToolDef interpreter, or otherwise an absolute or relative local file system path of the file to which to write the standard output. May contain both `\` and `/` as file separators.

`stderr`

  Specify whether to have a standard error (stderr) stream and where to write the standard error output. Use `""` to not have a stderr stream, `"-"` to use the stderr stream of the ToolDef interpreter, or otherwise an absolute or relative local file system path of the file to which to write the standard error output. May contain both `\` and `/` as file separators. Is ignored when the standard error stream is redirected to the standard output stream.

`appendOut`

  Whether to append to the stdout file (`true`) or overwrite it (`false`). Is ignored when standard output is not written to a file.

`appendErr`

  Whether to append to the stderr file (`true`) or overwrite it (`false`). Is ignored if standard error output is not written to a file. Is also ignored when standard error stream is redirected to the standard output stream.

`errToOut`

  Whether to redirect the standard error stream to the standard output stream (`true`) or use separate streams (`false`).

`ignoreNonZeroExitCode`

  Whether to ignore non-zero exit codes (`true`) or consider them as errors (`false`).

Returns

The exit code resulting from the execution of the command or external application.

Runtime errors

- If parsing of the command line arguments fails.

- If ToolDef fails to execution the command or external application.

- If execution results in a non-zero exit code and non-zero exit codes are not ignored.

### tooldef tool

    tool int tooldef(string... args,        string stdin = "-", string stdout = "-", string stderr = "-", bool appendOut = false, bool appendErr = false, bool errToOut = false, bool ignoreNonZeroExitCode = false)
    tool int tooldef(list string args = [], string stdin = "-", string stdout = "-", string stderr = "-", bool appendOut = false, bool appendErr = false, bool errToOut = false, bool ignoreNonZeroExitCode = false)

Executes a ToolDef script. Waits for that script to finish its execution before continuing with the current script.

The script is executed within the current Java interpreter, in a new thread, using a new ToolDef interpreter.

Parameters

`args`

  The command line arguments for the ToolDef interpreter, including the path to the script to execute. Each argument string is parsed to zero or more actual arguments. It is possible to use a single string with all arguments (where the arguments themselves are separated by spaces), comma separated strings for each of the arguments (each string has one argument), or a mix of those.

  In argument strings, individual arguments are separated by whitespace (spaces, tabs, new lines, etc). The whitespace itself is ignored, and only serves as separation. To include whitespace in an argument, the argument (or a part of it), may be quoted, by putting it between double quotes (`"`) or single quotes (`'`). Characters may be escaped by prefixing them with a backslash (`\`). This is particularly useful for single/double quotes, and escape characters, and can also be used to escape spaces. Escapes work the same inside of quoted parts as they do outside of quoted parts.

`stdin`

  Specify whether to have a standard input (stdin) stream and where the input comes from. Use `""` to not have a stdin stream, `"-"` to use the stdin stream of the ToolDef interpreter, or otherwise an absolute or relative local file system path of the file from which to read the standard input. May contain both `\` and `/` as file separators.

`stdout`

  Specify whether to have a standard output (stdout) stream and where to write the standard output. Use `""` to not have a stdout stream, `"-"` to use the stdout stream of the ToolDef interpreter, or otherwise an absolute or relative local file system path of the file to which to write the standard output. May contain both `\` and `/` as file separators.

`stderr`

  Specify whether to have a standard error (stderr) stream and where to write the standard error output. Use `""` to not have a stderr stream, `"-"` to use the stderr stream of the ToolDef interpreter, or otherwise an absolute or relative local file system path of the file to which to write the standard error output. May contain both `\` and `/` as file separators. Is ignored when the standard error stream is redirected to the standard output stream.

`appendOut`

  Whether to append to the stdout file (`true`) or overwrite it (`false`). Is ignored when standard output is not written to a file.

`appendErr`

  Whether to append to the stderr file (`true`) or overwrite it (`false`). Is ignored if standard error output is not written to a file. Is also ignored when standard error stream is redirected to the standard output stream.

`errToOut`

  Whether to redirect the standard error stream to the standard output stream (`true`) or use separate streams (`false`).

`ignoreNonZeroExitCode`

  Whether to ignore non-zero exit codes (`true`) or consider them as errors (`false`).

Returns

The ToolDef interpreter exit code, i.e. the exit code of the script.

Runtime errors

- If parsing of the command line arguments fails.

- If the application fails to execute due to its thread being interrupted.

- If execution results in a non-zero exit code and non-zero exit codes are not ignored.