Thread: redirecting stdout to a socket

I am trying to redirect stdout to a socket, I am not sure if it is possible but here is what I've got

Code:

	stdout = fdopen( connect_sckt, "r+" );
	execl("/bin/cat", "cat", "./document", 0 );

This doesnt work, any ideas?

It goes something like this.
Since you're using execl, best create a fork() process

Code:

// sockfd is your already open socket for writing to
if ( fork() == 0 ) {
    close ( 1 );    // close existing stdout
    dup( sockfd );  // make sockfd the new stdout
    execl("/bin/cat", "cat", "./document", (const char*)0 );
}

And yes, that cast at the end is necessary (one of the rare cases). execl() is a variadic function, so a simple 0 is assumed to be an int (not automatically cast to a pointer).

And yes, that cast at the end is necessary (one of the rare cases). execl() is a variadic function, so a simple 0 is assumed to be an int (not automatically cast to a pointer).

Didnt know that, helpful info, and thanx for the solution.

Out of curiosity, why should you use fork before execl?

I think i can guess the answer but a proper explanation would be good.