Node.js and Jake - How to call system commands synchronously within a task?

Question

A Jake task executes a long-running system command. Another task depends on the first task being completely finished before starting. The \'exec\' function of \'child_process\'

Answer 1

I found the answer to my own question by re-rereading Matthew Eernisse's post. For those wondering how to do it:

var exec = require('child_process').exec;

desc('first task');
task('first', [], function(params) {
  exec('long running system command', function() {
    complete();
  });
}, true); // this prevents task from exiting until complete() is called

desc('second task');
task('second', ['first'], function(params) {
  // do something dependent on the completion of 'first' task
});