Boost space in path not being handled correctly - c++

Question

I'm using the Boost process header and I can't seem to get the boost::process::system to take in my .cpp file path due to a space in the directory.
auto path = bp::search_path("g++");
int result = bp::system(path, "\"C:\\Users\\Sachin Chopra\\Documents\\rchat\\console_process\\src\\main.cpp\"");
I get the following error when I execute my code:
g++.exe: error: "C:\Users\Sachin: Invalid argument
g++.exe: error: Chopra\Documents\rchat\console_process\src\main.cpp": No such file or directory
g++.exe: fatal error: no input files
The file path formatting works for me .exe file, and will launch from boost if I use it. e.g.
bp::system("\"C:\\Users\\Sachin Chopra\\Documents\\rchat\\build\\console_process\\consoleproc.exe\"");
But when I introduce the g++ path, it seems to mess up. Any help would be appreciated.
Cheers.

Answer 1

You're confusing shell script with the system interface.
You can either use old style, error-prone system:
bp::system(R"(bash -c "echo hello; echo world")");
Or you can pass raw arguments instead of relyng on shell escaping
bp::system(bp::search_path("bash"),
std::vector<std::string>{
"-c",
"echo foo; echo bar",
});
Which could also be written more like
bp::system(bp::search_path("bash"), "-c", "echo 42; echo answer");
In fact, you should probably use the bp::child interace instead of the
system compatible one:
bp::child compiler_job(
bp::search_path("g++"),
R"(C:\Users\Sachin Chopra\Documents\rchat\console_process\src\main.cpp)");
compiler_job.wait_for(5s);
if (compiler_job.running()) {
compiler_job.terminate();
}
int result = compiler_job.exit_code();
std::cout << "compiler_job exit_code: " << result << "\n";
Live Demo
Live On Coliru
#include <boost/process.hpp>
#include <iostream>
namespace bp = boost::process;
using namespace std::chrono_literals;
int main() {
// either use old style, error-prone system
bp::system(R"(bash -c "echo hello; echo world")");
// or pass raw arguments instead of relyng on shell escaping
bp::system(bp::search_path("bash"),
std::vector<std::string>{
"-c",
"echo foo; echo bar",
});
// Which can aslo be written as
bp::system(bp::search_path("bash"), "-c", "echo 42; echo answer");
// in fact, you should probably use the `bp::child` interace instead of the
// `system` compatible one:
bp::child compiler_job(
bp::search_path("g++"),
R"(C:\Users\Sachin Chopra\Documents\rchat\console_process\src\main.cpp)");
compiler_job.wait_for(5s);
if (compiler_job.running()) {
compiler_job.terminate();
}
int result = compiler_job.exit_code();
std::cout << "compiler_job exit_code: " << result << "\n";
}
Prints e.g.
hello
world
foo
bar
42
answer
g++: error: C:\Users\Sachin Chopra\Documents\rchat\console_process\src\main.cpp: No such file or directory
g++: fatal error: no input files
compilation terminated.
compiler_job exit_code: 1