popen example: exec shell command output

gistfile1.cpp

    bool exec(const std::string &cmd, std::string* out)
    {
        FILE* pipe = popen(cmd.c_str(), "r");
        if (pipe == NULL) {
            return false;
        }

        char buffer[2048];
        while (!feof(pipe)) {
            if (fgets(buffer, sizeof(buffer), pipe) != NULL) {
                out->append(buffer);
            }
        }
        pclose(pipe);
        return true;
    }