unix file creation with java

Question

If I use this command inside unix shell :

ls -lrt > ttrr

I get my output.

But when I am putting that command inside a java program then it does not work, it does not give any error, but no file is created after the program execution is complete.

here is my program :

public class sam
   {
       public static void main(String args[])
         {
            try
               {
                 Runtime.getRuntime().exec(" ls -lrt > ttrr");
               }
          catch(Exception e)
                {
                  e.printStackTrace();
                }
         }
   }

Is it some homework question. why not use Java APIs to create files/directories... — Jayan
– Jayan, Commented Mar 19, 2014 at 6:35
@Jayan is correct. It suits well for other OS also. Better use java api's. — Shriram
– Shriram, Commented Mar 19, 2014 at 6:37
possible duplicate of Using redirection operators with Java Runtime Exec — Michał Politowski
– Michał Politowski, Commented Mar 19, 2014 at 8:19

morgano · Accepted Answer · 2014-03-19 06:58:20Z

In Unix you need to be aware that the command line is first processed by the shell and then the resulting string being executed. In your case, this command: ls -lrt > ttrr has a > in it that must be processed by a shell.

When you use Runtime.getRuntime().exec(command); the command string is not processed by a shell and is sent straight to the OS for it to be executed.

If you want your command to be executed properly (I'm talking about ls -lrt > ttrr) you have to execute the shell in the same command. in the case of Bash you can use something like this:

public static void main(String args[]) {
    try {
        Runtime.getRuntime().exec(new String[] {"bash", "-c", "ls -lrt > ttrr"});
    } catch(Exception e) {
        e.printStackTrace();
    }
}

what is really being executed is a command with two arguments: "bash" (the shell program), "-c" a Bash option to execute a script in the command line, and "ls -lrt > ttrr" which is the actual "command" you want to run.

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