expect-lite
Automation for the rest of us with Windows
Using expect-lite with Cygwin
Althought expect-lite was initially created for the Linux environment, there are many users of expect-lite using windows and cygwin. Version 4.0.1, has been tested extensively on cygwin.Unfortunately, the current version of expect, used by expect-lite, in cygwin is quite old (2003).
Limitations of using the old cygwin expect from 2003
The Powerful new Debugger in expect-lite is using underlying features of expect which are just not available in the 2003 version. Although expect-lite script should execute without problem, some of the newer cool debugger features will not work correctly.The limitations in the Debugger are:
- Copy/Paste expect-lites into the debugger - not supported. A warning will be printed when entering the Debugger
- Debugger commands: must use back-quote ` rather than the escape key
There is a newer version of expect available
I have compiled the CVS version of expect 5.45 for cygwin. A tar
file is available which includes the expect binary, and required
libraries.Download the newer version of expect, and unleash the full potential of expect-lite on your cygwin system.
To install the tarball, untar from the root
- cd /
- tar xvzf cygwin_expect_5_45.tar.gz
If anyone has experience creating Cygwin packages, please drop me a note, I would like to update the version expect in the Cygwin repository.