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
});

Answer 2

Just for future reference, I have a synchronous exec module with no other dependencies.

• https://npmjs.org/package/allsync

Example:

var allsync = require("allsync");
allsync.exec( "find /", function(data){
    process.stdout.write(data);
});
console.log("Done!");

In the above exampale, Done is only printed after the find process exists. The exec function essentially blocks until complete.