From: Peter Vandenabeele <peter@...>
Date: 2012-01-23T00:32:45+09:00
Subject: Re: load gems programatically?

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On Sun, Jan 22, 2012 at 3:55 PM, John Sayeau <johnsayeau@gmail.com> wrote:

> Hi.
> I want to write a script to alter a value in a plist. I know how to do
> it but for the script to run i have to install a plist gem like this:
> "sudo gem install Plist".
> and then I get prompted for the password...no problem.
>
> I would like to have the script install the gem for me so It can be run
> on machines that have a freshly installed OS.
> If I put this line in the script " system("sudo gem install Plist")
> I get asked for the password.
>
> How do I use ruby to enter the password? (the password is always the
> same in this case)
>

Hmmm, I am thinking of ways to get arount this (I mean: not putting the
password in the script).

* standard solutions like puppet and Chef have certainly resolved
  this issue

* Is there any chance that you do not need to install those gems
with sudo rights, but could suffice with a local install in a user
directory. E.g. this page

http://docs.rubygems.org/read/chapter/3

shows how to install gems locally:

  3.2 Installing RubyGems in a User Directory

* If that fails, you might also figure out a bash script that does
what you need to do (it might call a ruby program) and have that
entire bash script running with real or effective user with root
permissions.

* and if you really want to do it as you suggest, you could
use the -S option of sudo ... This is NOT RECOMMENDED !

<dirty>
peterv@ASUS:~$ echo 'x...x' | sudo -S tail -1 /var/log/auth.log
Jan 22 16:26:19 ASUS sudo:   peterv : TTY=pts/2 ; PWD=/home/peterv ;
USER=root ; COMMAND=/usr/bin/tail -1 /var/log/auth.log
peterv@ASUS:~$ kill -9 $$
</dirty>

Running off, going to wash my hands,

Peter

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