running programs within c++

I am aware of the use of ctsdlib's system() function

I'm just wondering though, would that end the c++ program that is being run?

for instance, if I'm runnign the program in a unix terminal and I use the command system("perl prog.pl") (which would tell unix to run a perl script) woudl my c++ program conitnue running after the perl script had ended?

Yes it would

>would that end the c++ program that is being run?
It's implementation dependent. So the answer is "maybe, but then again, maybe not".

In addition to that question, I have one.

If I don't want to have the ugly "Press a key to end" or whatever, what's a more efficient way to pause the program until keypress?

>what's a more efficient way to pause the program until keypress?
The best portable way is:

Code:

---

#include <ios>
#include <iostream>
#include <limits>

using namespace std;

int main()
{
  //...

  cin.ignore(numeric_limits<streamsize>::max(), '\n');
  cin.get();
}

---

The call to ignore will clean up any extraneous characters from the stream so that get actually causes a blocking read. If your stream usage is well thought out then this shouldn't be a problem though.

If you want to terminate the program at any key press rather than just at Enter, you get into the realm of implementation dependent solutions. In that case, the question becomes "How can I read a key press without waiting for Enter?".

Thanks, RoD. I've been wondering how to do that for a while, but I never even thought to ask here.

this kinda got off topic

what does implementation dependant mean?

how do I set it up so that running the script doesn't end the c++ app?

>what does implementation dependant mean?
It means the behavior of some construct is up to the compiler, or operating system, and the like. However, the implementation is required to document it's choice.