Run shell commands

A good way to interact with other CLI tools. E.g. compiling Compass compass compile or get the current git branch git branch.

Use StackOverflow for support questions.

$ npm install --save-dev grunt-shell

require('load-grunt-tasks')(grunt); // npm install --save-dev load-grunt-tasks

grunt.initConfig({
	shell: {
		options: {
			stderr: false
		},
		target: {
			command: 'ls'
		}
	}
});

grunt.registerTask('default', ['shell']);

Create a folder named test.

grunt.initConfig({
	shell: {
		makeDir: {
			command: 'mkdir test'
		}
	}
});

The command property supports templates:

grunt.initConfig({
	testDir: 'test',
	shell: {
		makeDir: {
			command: 'mkdir <%= testDir %>'
		}
	}
});

You can also supply a function that returns the command:

grunt.initConfig({
	shell: {
		hello: {
			command: function () {
				return 'echo hello';
			}
		}
	}
});

Which can also take arguments:

module.exports = function(grunt) {
	grunt.loadNpmTasks('grunt-shell');
	grunt.initConfig({
		shell: {
			greet: {
				command: function (greeting) {
					return 'echo ' + greeting;
				}
			}
		}
	});
	grunt.registerTask('default', ['shell:greet:hello']);
}

Output a directory listing in your Terminal.

grunt.initConfig({
	shell: {
		dirListing: {
			command: 'ls'
		}
	}
});

Do whatever you want with the output.

function log(err, stdout, stderr, cb) {
	console.log(stdout);
	cb();
}

grunt.initConfig({
	shell: {
		dirListing: {
			command: 'ls',
			options: {
				callback: log
			}
		}
	}
});

Run a command in another directory. In this example we run it in a subfolder using the cwd (current working directory) option.

grunt.initConfig({
	shell: {
		subfolderLs: {
			command: 'ls',
			options: {
				stderr: false,
				execOptions: {
					cwd: 'tasks'
				}
			}
		}
	}
});

Run multiple commands by placing them in an array which is joined using && or ;. && means run this only if the previous command succeeded. You can also use & to have the commands run concurrently (by executing all commands except the last one in a subshell).

grunt.initConfig({
	shell: {
		multiple: {
			command: [
				'mkdir test',
				'cd test',
				'ls'
			].join('&&')
		}
	}
});

Required
Type: string, function

The command you want to run or a function which returns it. Supports underscore templates.

Type: boolean
Default: true

Show stdout in the Terminal.

Type: boolean
Default: true

Show stderr in the Terminal.

Type: boolean
Default: true

Forward the terminal's stdin to the command.

Type: boolean
Default: true

Fail task if it encounters an error. Does not apply if you specify a callback.

Type: boolean
Default: false

This sets stdin to act as a raw device.

Type: function
Default: function () {}

Lets you override the default callback with your own.

Make sure to call the cb method when you're done.

Type: object

Specify some options to be passed to the .exec() method:

• cwd String Current working directory of the child process
• env Object Environment key-value pairs
• setsid Boolean
• encoding String (Default: 'utf8')
• timeout Number (Default: 0)
• maxBuffer Number (Default: 200*1024)
• killSignal String (Default: 'SIGTERM')

MIT © Sindre Sorhus