Expect-5.45.4

#### Beyond Linux® From Scratch - Version 2019-02-27

### Chapter 13. Programming

- Prev

  Doxygen-1.8.15

- Next

  GCC-8.2.0

- Up
- Home

# Expect-5.45.4

## Introduction to Expect

The Expect package was installed in the LFS temporary tools directory for testing other packages. These procedures install it in a permanent location. It contains tools for automating interactive applications such as telnet, ftp, passwd, fsck, rlogin, tip, etc. Expect is also useful for testing these same applications as well as easing all sorts of tasks that are prohibitively difficult with anything else.

This package is known to build and work properly using an LFS-8.4 platform.

### Package Information

- Download (HTTP): https://downloads.sourceforge.net/expect/expect5.45.4.tar.gz

- Download MD5 sum: 00fce8de158422f5ccd2666512329bd2

- Download size: 624 KB

- Estimated disk space required: 3.2 MB (with tests)

- Estimated build time: 0.2 SBU (with tests)

### Expect Dependencies

#### Required

Tcl-8.6.9

#### Optional

Tk-8.6.9

User Notes: http://wiki.linuxfromscratch.org/blfs/wiki/expect

## Installation of Expect

Install Expect by running the following commands:

    ./configure --prefix=/usr           \
                --with-tcl=/usr/lib     \
                --enable-shared         \
                --mandir=/usr/share/man \
                --with-tclinclude=/usr/include &&
    make

To test the results, issue: make test.

Now, as the `root` user:

    make install &&
    ln -svf expect5.45.4/libexpect5.45.4.so /usr/lib

## Command Explanations

`-with-tcl=/usr/lib`: This parameter is used to tell the configure script where the tclConfig.sh is located.

`--enable-shared`: This option enables building the shared library.

ln -sf ...: This command creates a required link to the shared library.

## Configuring Expect

### Config Files

`$exp_library/expect.rc` and `~/.expect.rc`

### Configuration Information

Reference the expect man page for information about utilizing the `expect.rc` configuration files. Additionally, many of the tools contained in the Expect package will use their own configuration files. Reference the respective man page, or examine the script directly for configuration file information.

## Contents

Installed Programs: autoexpect, autopasswd, cryptdir, decryptdir, dislocate, expect, ftp-rfc, kibitz, lpunlock, mkpasswd, passmass, rftp, rlogin-cwd, timed-read, timed-run, unbuffer, weather, and optionally (if Expect was linked against Tk), multixterm, tknewsbiff, tkpasswd, xkibitz, and xpstat
Installed Library: libexpect5.45.4.so
Installed Directory: /usr/lib/expect5.45.4

### Short Descriptions

autoexpect | generates an Expect script from watching a session.
autopasswd | is a wrapper to make passwd(1) be non-interactive.
cryptdir | encrypts all files in a directory.
decryptdir | decrypts all files in a directory.
dislocate | allows processes to be disconnected and reconnected to a terminal.
expect | is a program that “talks” to other interactive programs according to a script.
ftp-rfc | retrieves an RFC (or the index) from UUNET.
kibitz | allows two (or more) people to interact with one shell (or any arbitrary program).
lpunlock | unhangs a printer which claims it is “waiting for lock”.
mkpasswd | generates passwords and can apply them automatically to users.
passmass | changes a password on multiple machines.
rftp | is much like ftp except it uses `~g` and `~p` instead of `mget` and `mput`.
rlogin-cwd | is rlogin except it uses the local current directory as the current working directory on the remote machine.
timed-read | reads a complete line from stdin and aborts after a given number of seconds.
timed-run | runs a program for a given amount of time.
unbuffer | disables the output buffering that occurs when program output is redirected.
weather | retrieves a weather report (courtesy University of Michigan) for a given city or geographical area.
multixterm | creates multiple xterms that can be driven together or separately.
tknewsbiff | pops up a window when there is unread news in your favorite newsgroups and removes the window after you've read the news.
tkpasswd | is a script to change passwords using expect and Tk.
xkibitz | allows users in separate xterms to share one shell (or any program that runs in an xterm).
xpstat | is a script that acts as a front-end for xpilot.
`libexpect5.45.4.so` | contains functions that allow Expect to be used as a Tcl extension or to be used directly from C or C++ (without Tcl).

Last updated on 2019-02-15 14:47:31 -0600

- Prev

  Doxygen-1.8.15

- Next

  GCC-8.2.0

- Up
- Home