Simple Shell Project

This project is a simple UNIX command interpreter created using the C programming language for Holberton School.

Overview

The simple shell is a basic command-line interpreter that allows users to execute commands in a UNIX-like environment. The shell provides a prompt where users can enter commands, and it executes those commands by creating child processes.

Code Structure

The main functionality of the shell is implemented in the main.c file, with additional functions in separate files for better modularity.

main.c

• The main function initializes the shell and enters into a loop to continuously read and execute user commands
• It checks if the input is coming from a terminal and prints a prompt accordingly.
• The exit_and_env function handles built-in commands like exit and env.
• User commands are processed through the pre_execute function, which includes splitting the command into tokens and determining the appropriate execution path.
• The execute function forks a child process to execute the command, and the parent process waits for the child to complete.

helpers.c

• The split function divides a command into an array of tokens.
• The pre_execute function prepares the command for execution.
• The execute function handles the actual execution of the command.
• The free_arr function frees memory allocated for an array of strings.
• The print_env function prints the environment variables.

path.c

• The get_path function retrieves the full path of a command by searching through the directories listed in the PATH environment variable.

Building and Running

To compile the simple shell, use the following commands:

$ gcc *.c -o simple_shell

To run the shell:

$ ./simple_shell

or

echo "your_command" | ./simple_shell

and finally

cat your_commands_file | ./simple_shell

Usage

Once the shell is running, you can enter commands at the prompt. The shell supports basic commands, built-in commands (exit and env), and environment variable handling.

Notes

• This simple shell project is designed for educational purposes and may not cover all edge cases or advanced features found in professional shells.
• Feel free to explore, modify, and enhance the code to better suit your needs. Note Please ensure you have the necessary permissions to execute the compiled shell. Happy coding!

Authors

Isgenderli Tuncay

Ravan Asadov