Chapter 2. Operating System Interface

2.1. Processes
2.2. Command line arguments
2.3. OS Reference
ext:*help-message* — Command line help message
ext:*lisp-init-file-list*ECL initialization files.
ext:+default-command-arg-rules+ECL command line options
ext:command-args — List of command line arguments.
ext:process-command-args — Process command line arguments.
ext:quit — Exit ECL.
ext:run-program — Start and communicate with a child process.
ext:system — Invoke a command using the shell.

2.1. Processes

ECL provides several facilities for invoking and communicating with external processes. If one just wishes to execute some program, without caring for its output, then probably ext:system is the best function. In all other cases it is preferable to use ext:run-program, which opens pipes to communicate with the program and manipulate it while it runs on the background.