exec()

Overview

Run shell commands (Linux) or PowerShell commands (Windows) in the sandbox.

Syntax

await testdriver.exec(language, code, timeout, silent)

Parameters

string

required

The language to run: 'sh' (Shell/Linux) or 'pwsh' (PowerShell/Windows)

string

required

The code or the command to run

number

required

The timeout in milliseconds

boolean

default:"false"

If true, TestDriver does not show the output

Returns

Promise<string> - The command output

Shell Execution (Linux)

Run shell commands in the Linux sandbox.

Basic Commands

// List files
const files = await testdriver.exec('sh', 'ls -la', 5000);

// Check current directory
const pwd = await testdriver.exec('sh', 'pwd', 5000);

// Run a script
await testdriver.exec('sh', './setup.sh', 60000);

File Operations

// Create a file
await testdriver.exec('sh', 'echo "Hello World" > test.txt', 5000);

// Read a file
const content = await testdriver.exec('sh', 'cat test.txt', 5000);

// Copy files
await testdriver.exec('sh', 'cp source.txt dest.txt', 5000);

// Delete files
await testdriver.exec('sh', 'rm test.txt', 5000);

PowerShell Execution (Windows)

Execute PowerShell commands in the Windows sandbox.

Software Installation

// Install npm package globally
await testdriver.exec('pwsh', 'npm install -g http-server', 30000);

// Install via Chocolatey
await testdriver.exec('pwsh', 'choco install firefox -y', 60000);

// Download and run installer
await testdriver.exec('pwsh', `
  Invoke-WebRequest -Uri "https://example.com/setup.exe" -OutFile "C:\\setup.exe"
  Start-Process -FilePath "C:\\setup.exe" -ArgumentList "/S" -Wait
`, 120000);

File Operations

// Create a file
await testdriver.exec('pwsh', `
  Set-Content -Path "C:\\test.txt" -Value "Hello World"
`, 5000);

// Read a file
const content = await testdriver.exec('pwsh', 
  'Get-Content -Path "C:\\test.txt"', 
  5000
);

// Copy files
await testdriver.exec('pwsh', 
  'Copy-Item -Path "C:\\source.txt" -Destination "C:\\dest.txt"', 
  5000
);

// Delete files
await testdriver.exec('pwsh', 
  'Remove-Item -Path "C:\\test.txt"', 
  5000
);

// List directory
const files = await testdriver.exec('pwsh', 
  'Get-ChildItem -Path "C:\\Users\\testdriver\\Documents"', 
  5000
);

Process Management

// List running processes
const processes = await testdriver.exec('pwsh', 'Get-Process', 5000);

// Start application
await testdriver.exec('pwsh', `
  Start-Process "C:\\Program Files\\Google\\Chrome\\Application\\chrome.exe" -ArgumentList "--start-maximized", "https://example.com"
`, 5000);

// Kill a process
await testdriver.exec('pwsh', 'Stop-Process -Name "chrome" -Force', 5000);

// Wait for process
await testdriver.exec('pwsh', 'Start-Process notepad -Wait', 30000);

Environment Variables

// Set environment variable (session)
await testdriver.exec('pwsh', '$env:MY_VAR = "value"', 5000);

// Get environment variable
const value = await testdriver.exec('pwsh', '$env:MY_VAR', 5000);

// Set persistent environment variable
await testdriver.exec('pwsh', `
  [Environment]::SetEnvironmentVariable("MY_VAR", "value", "User")
`, 5000);

Network Operations

// Test connectivity
const pingResult = await testdriver.exec('pwsh', 
  'Test-NetConnection google.com', 
  10000
);

// Download file
await testdriver.exec('pwsh', `
  Invoke-WebRequest -Uri "https://example.com/file.zip" -OutFile "C:\\Downloads\\file.zip"
`, 30000);

// Check if port is open
const portOpen = await testdriver.exec('pwsh', 
  'Test-NetConnection -ComputerName localhost -Port 3000', 
  5000
);

Silent Execution

Suppress output for background operations:

// Silent installation
await testdriver.exec('pwsh', 'npm install -g some-package', 30000, true);

// Start background process
await testdriver.exec('pwsh', 'Start-Process notepad', 5000, true);

// Run setup script silently
await testdriver.exec('pwsh', '.\\setup.ps1', 60000, true);

Best Practices

Use appropriate timeouts

// Quick operations: 5000ms
await testdriver.exec('sh', 'ls -la', 5000);

// Installations: 30000-60000ms
await testdriver.exec('pwsh', 'npm install -g package', 30000);

// Downloads or complex operations: 60000-120000ms
await testdriver.exec('pwsh', 'Install-Module Something', 120000);

Handle errors gracefully

try {
  await testdriver.exec('pwsh', 'Some-Command', 5000);
} catch (error) {
  console.error('Command failed:', error.message);
  // Fallback or retry logic
}

Use silent mode for background tasks

// Silent install
await testdriver.exec('pwsh', 'npm install -g tool', 30000, true);

// Background service
await testdriver.exec('pwsh', 'Start-Service MyService', 5000, true);

Escape strings properly in PowerShellUse proper escaping for special characters:

// Use backticks for newlines
await testdriver.exec('pwsh', `
  Write-Host "Line 1\`nLine 2"
`, 5000);

// Use single quotes to avoid variable expansion
await testdriver.exec('pwsh', 
  "Write-Host 'Text with $special chars'", 
  5000
);

Complete Example

import { beforeAll, afterAll, describe, it } from 'vitest';
import TestDriver from 'testdriverai';

describe('Code Execution', () => {
  let testdriver;

  beforeAll(async () => {
    client = new TestDriver(process.env.TD_API_KEY);
    await testdriver.auth();
    await testdriver.connect();
  });

  afterAll(async () => {
    await testdriver.disconnect();
  });

  it('should execute shell commands on Linux', async () => {
    // List directory
    const files = await testdriver.exec('sh', 'ls -la', 5000);
    console.log('Files:', files);
    
    // Create a file
    await testdriver.exec('sh', 'echo "Hello World" > test.txt', 5000);
    
    // Read the file
    const content = await testdriver.exec('sh', 'cat test.txt', 5000);
    expect(content).toContain('Hello World');
  });

  it('should install and use tools on Windows', async () => {
    // Install tool
    await testdriver.exec('pwsh', 'npm install -g http-server', 30000, true);
    
    // Create HTML file
    await testdriver.exec('pwsh', `
      Set-Content -Path "C:\\index.html" -Value "<h1>Test Page</h1>"
    `, 5000);
    
    // Start server in background
    await testdriver.exec('pwsh', `
      Start-Process pwsh -ArgumentList "-Command", "http-server C:\\ -p 8080"
    `, 5000, true);
    
    await new Promise(r => setTimeout(r, 3000));
    
    // Launch browser
    await testdriver.exec('pwsh', `
      Start-Process chrome -ArgumentList "http://localhost:8080"
    `, 5000);
    
    await testdriver.focusApplication('Google Chrome');
  });
});

focusApplication() - Focus apps before exec
find() - Locate elements visually
type() - Type text into inputs

Overview

Using TestDriver

Building & Maintaining Tests

Advanced Topics

Overview

Syntax

Parameters

Returns

Shell Execution (Linux)

Basic Commands

File Operations

PowerShell Execution (Windows)

Software Installation

File Operations

Process Management

Environment Variables

Network Operations

Silent Execution

Best Practices

Complete Example

​Overview

​Syntax

​Parameters

​Returns

​Shell Execution (Linux)

​Basic Commands

​File Operations

​PowerShell Execution (Windows)

​Software Installation

​File Operations

​Process Management

​Environment Variables

​Network Operations

​Silent Execution

​Best Practices

​Complete Example

​Related Methods

Overview

Syntax

Parameters

Returns

Shell Execution (Linux)

Basic Commands

File Operations

PowerShell Execution (Windows)

Software Installation

File Operations

Process Management

Environment Variables

Network Operations

Silent Execution

Best Practices

Complete Example

Related Methods