help making a user adding program in c++

evilchild504 · 11-05-2003, 07:41 PM

ok I'm running redhat 7.3 and using kdevelop 2.1
I'm trying to make a c++ program that i can execute when a user "newuser" logs in.

the program needs to some how execute the "adduser" and "passwd" commands and input the username and password the user of the program enters

where i'm stuck is somehow opening the "adduser" program and inputing the user name, wondering if this would work, "

string username = "";
string password = "";

//get username
outFile.open( "/usr/sbin/adduser.exe", ios::app )
cout << "please enter desired username";
cin >> username
outFile << username << endl;
outFile.close();
//get pass
outFile.open("/usr/bin/passwd.exe", ios::app)
cout << "please enter desired password";
cin >> password;
outFile << username << password << endl;
outFile.close()
cout << "thanks for using our services";
return 0;
}
as you can probably tell i'm no c++ genus, but would this work or is there some other way i should do this? please help

mr_segfault · 11-06-2003, 02:46 AM

Well, what you have here will not work..

opening a file does not run a program..

This would be easier to do using a script, but if you must use C++ program, then use something like system, do a:

man 3 system

something like this might work:

Code:

#include <iostream>
#include <string>

int main()
{
  std::string username;
  std::string password;

  std::cout << "Please enter the desired username:";
  std::cin >> username;

  std::string commandToRun = "/usr/sbin/adduser.exe ";
  commandToRun += username;

  system(commandToRun.c_str());

// etc ...............................

  return 1;
}

But still I dont suggest using this method, a shell script would be better. Also passwd will want to read its input from stdin (use option --stdin), so you will have issues there, a line like "cat <put_password_here> | passwd --stdin" might work.

Also I think that you need to be logged in as the user for who you are changing the password for (when using passwd). I am no expert but I think that is correct..

What are you actually trying to do?

Cheers.

gradedcheese · 11-06-2003, 03:39 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by mr_segfault
Also I think that you need to be logged in as the user for who you are changing the password for (when using passwd). I am no expert but I think that is correct..

unless his program can use "su" and then run passwd somehow. This would be much more doable and generally nicer as a shell script, as mr_segfault said.