smallsh - A Custom Shell Implementation

Overview

A simple shell program in C, akin to the Bash shell, but with a reduced feature set. The goal was to develop a functional shell named smallsh that executes command line instructions, handles input/output redirection, and manages foreground and background processes.

Features

• Command Execution: smallsh executes command line instructions and returns results.
• Redirection: Supports redirection of standard input and standard output.
• Foreground and Background Processes: Capable of handling both foreground and background processes.
• Built-in Commands:
  • exit: Terminates the shell session.
  • cd: Changes the current working directory.
  • status: Displays the exit status of the last executed command.
• Comments: Lines beginning with the # character are treated as comments and ignored.

Getting Started

To get started with smallsh, follow these steps:

1. Clone the Repository: Clone this repository to your local machine.

   git clone https://github.com/yourusername/smallsh.git

2. Navigate to the Project Directory:

   cd smallsh

3. Compile the Code: Use gcc to compile the source code.

   gcc -o smallsh smallsh.c

4. Run the Shell: Execute the shell using the compiled binary.

   ./smallsh

Development Notes

• Development Environment: Please perform all development work on the designated class server to avoid potential issues on other systems.
• Handling Issues: If you experience problems with runaway processes affecting your access, use the provided page to terminate unwanted processes.

Example Usage

smallsh$ ls -l
smallsh$ cd /path/to/directory
smallsh$ ./myprogram > output.txt
smallsh$ ./myprogram &
smallsh$ exit