Expect--Remote Control

Expect--Remote Control

Expect is a Tcl-based program for automating remote and interactive programs. Useful for system administration, the expect command allows you to write a script that controls interaction with other programs. Scripts know what to expect from a program and what the correct responses should be. An interpreted language provides branching and high-level control structures to direct the dialogue. In addition, the user can take control and interact directly when desired, then return control to the script.

In general, the expect command is useful for running any application that requires interaction between the program and the user. All it requires is for the programmer to characterize this interaction systematically See the expect(1) reference page for more details about this facility.