Hello! I\'d like some help with a problem I\'ve been having. I\'m programming in

Question

Hello! I'd like some help with a problem I've been having.

I'm programming in C under a linux environment. I'd like to know how to make a C program simulate typing "help" in the linux terminal.

So for example the command "ls" in linux. This is the code I used to display the result of "ls" within a C program:

#include <stdio.h>

#include <stdlib.h>

int main()

{

system("ls");

return 0;

}

It's not the complete code, it's just a test code to see if I can even get the commands to work within the C program (I'm completely new to both C and working in the linux environment by the way.) However, it's the code that actually executes the "ls" command within the C program. I really want to know how to make the "help" command be able to execute within the same C program. Applying this method to the "help" command gives me this result: "sh: 1: help: not found". I can't seem to figure this problem out.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Explanation / Answer

#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>

int main()

{
   // valid command in unix
   // gives the files in current folder
    system("ls");

   // sh will look for executable in /bin and /usr/bin directory.
    // and sh does not contain help there. hence the command is not found.
    system("help");

    // gives the path of HOME
    system("echo $HOME");

    return 0;

}

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