1 files changed, 33 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/lib/alaveteli_external_command.rb b/lib/alaveteli_external_command.rb
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..b967c89b5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/alaveteli_external_command.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+require 'external_command'
+
+module AlaveteliExternalCommand
+    class << self
+        def run(program_name, *args)
+            # Run an external program, and return its output.
+            # Standard error is suppressed unless the program
+            # fails (i.e. returns a non-zero exit status).
+            opts = {}
+            if !args.empty? && args[-1].is_a?(Hash)
+                opts = args.pop
+            end
+            
+            xc = ExternalCommand.new(program_name, *args)
+            if opts.has_key? :append_to
+                xc.out = opts[:append_to]
+            end
+            xc.run()
+            if xc.status != 0
+                # Error
+                $stderr.puts("Error from #{program_name} #{args.join(' ')}:")
+                $stderr.print(xc.err)
+                return nil
+            else
+                if opts.has_key? :append_to
+                    opts[:append_to] << "\n\n"
+                else
+                    return xc.out
+                end
+            end
+        end
+    end
+end