Handbook: Bash

Launch a bash command (yeah, it's still going to be necessary for a while) from a box:

box.bash "git commit -m 'changes'"

true/false will be returned, but if the bash command returns nonzero, an exception is raised with stderr.

begin box.bash "git commit -m 'changes'" 

rescue Rush::BashFailed => e
  puts "Failed to commit, reason: #{e.message}"
end

Another way to run executables:

 λ → home.ruby '-e "puts 2 + 2"'
4
   = true

Box is not necessary:

 λ → ruby '-e "puts 2 + 2"'
4
   = true

To get output of a command, use .output_of method:

 λ → home.output_of :ls, '-lah'
# less with result will be opened, result is string with output

Execute from a dir instead of a box in order to set that dir as the current directory before executing:

box['/var/www/myapp/'].bash 'mongrel_rails start'

Pass in a hash of variables to set the environment:

box['/var/www/myapp/'].bash 'mongrel_rails start', :env => { :RAILS_ENV => 'production' }

The :user parameter will use sudo capability, if you're root or a sudoer:

box.bash '/etc/init.d/nginx reload', :user => 'root'

Provide feedback