pty extension version 0.3 by A.ito

1. Introduction

This extension module adds ruby a functionality to execute an 
arbitrary command through pseudo tty (pty).

2. Install

Follow the instruction below.

(1) Execute

      ruby extconf.rb

    then Makefile is generated.

(3) Do make; make install.

3. What you can do

This extension module defines a module named PTY, which contains
following module fungtions:

   getpty(command)
   spawn(command)

      This function reserves a pty, executes command over the pty 
      and returns an array. The return value is an array with three
      elements. The first element in the array is for reading and the 
      second for writing. The third element is the process ID of the
      child process. If this function is called with an iterator block,
      the array is passed to the block as block parameters, and the
      function itself returns nil.

      When the child process is suspended or finished, an exception is
      raised.  If this function is called with an iterator block,
      exception is raised only within the block.  Child process
      monitor is terminated on block exit.

   protect_signal
   reset_signal

      These functions are obsolete in this version of pty.

   PTY.open

      Allocates a pty (pseudo-terminal).

      It returns an array which contains an IO object and a File object.
      The former is the master of the pty.
      The latter is the slave of the pty.

      If a block is given, it yields the array instead of return.
      The value of the block is returned.
      master_io and slave_file is closed when return if they are not closed.

   PTY.check(pid[, raise=false])

      checks the status of the child process specified by pid, and
      returns nil if the process is still alive and active.
      Otherwise, returns Process::Status about the process if raise is
      false, or PTY::ChildExited exception is raised.

4. License

(C) Copyright 1998 by Akinori Ito.

This software may be redistributed freely for this purpose, in full 
or in part, provided that this entire copyright notice is included 
on any copies of this software and applications and derivations thereof.

This software is provided on an "as is" basis, without warranty of any
kind, either expressed or implied, as to any matter including, but not
limited to warranty of fitness of purpose, or merchantability, or
results obtained from use of this software.

5. Bug report

Please feel free to send E-mail to

   aito@ei5sun.yz.yamagata-u.ac.jp

for any bug report, opinion, contribution, etc.