Execute combine multiple Linux commands in one line

Question

I am trying to merge multiple linux commands in one line to perform deployment operation. For example

cd /my_folder
rm *.jar
svn co path to repo
mvn compile          


        

Answer 1

I've found that using ; to separate commands only works in the foreground. eg :

cmd1; cmd2; cmd3 & - will only execute cmd3 in the background, whereas cmd1 && cmd2 && cmd3 & - will execute the entire chain in the background IF there are no errors.

To cater for unconditional execution, using parenthesis solves this :

(cmd1; cmd2; cmd3) & - will execute the chain of commands in the background, even if any step fails.

Answer 2

If you want to execute all the commands, whether the previous one executes or not, you can use semicolon (;) to separate the commands.

cd /my_folder; rm *.jar; svn co path to repo; mvn compile package install

If you want to execute the next command only if the previous command succeeds, then you can use && to separate the commands.

cd /my_folder && rm *.jar && svn co path to repo && mvn compile package install

In your case, the execution of consecutive commands seems to depend upon the previous commands, so use the second example i.e. use && to join the commands.

Answer 3

I find lots of answer for this kind of question misleading

Modified from this post: https://www.webmasterworld.com/linux/3613813.htm

The following code will create bash window and works exactly as a bash window. Hope this helps. Too many wrong/not-working answers out there...

            Process proc;
            try {
                //create a bash window
                proc = Runtime.getRuntime().exec("/bin/bash");
                if (proc != null) {
                       BufferedReader in = new BufferedReader(new InputStreamReader(proc.getInputStream()));
                       PrintWriter out = new PrintWriter(new BufferedWriter(new OutputStreamWriter(proc.getOutputStream())), true);
                       BufferedReader err = new BufferedReader(new InputStreamReader(
                       proc.getErrorStream()));
                       //input into the bash window
                       out.println("cd /my_folder");
                       out.println("rm *.jar");
                       out.println("svn co path to repo");
                       out.println("mvn compile package install");
                       out.println("exit");
                       String line;
                        System.out.println("----printing output-----");
                          while ((line = in.readLine()) != null) {
                             System.out.println(line);
                          }
                          while((line = err.readLine()) != null) {
                             //read errors
                          }
                          proc.waitFor();
                          in.close();
                          out.close();
                          err.close();
                          proc.destroy();
                }

            } catch (IOException e) {
                // TODO Auto-generated catch block
                e.printStackTrace();
            } catch (InterruptedException e) {
                // TODO Auto-generated catch block
                e.printStackTrace();
            }