sub spawn {

	my($cmd) = @_;
	my($pid, $pty, $tty, $tty_fd);

	## Create a new pseudo terminal.
	$pty = new IO::Pty
		or die $!;

	## Execute the program in another process.
	unless ($pid = fork) {  # child process
		die "problem spawning program: $!\n" unless defined $pid;

		## Disassociate process from existing controlling terminal.

		use POSIX ();
		POSIX::setsid
			or die "setsid failed: $!";

		## Associate process with a new controlling terminal.
		$tty = $pty->slave;
		$pty->make_slave_controlling_terminal();
		$tty_fd = $tty->fileno;
		close $pty;

		## Make stdio use the new controlling terminal.
		open STDIN, "<&$tty_fd" or die $!;
		open STDOUT, ">&$tty_fd" or die $!;
		open STDERR, ">&STDOUT" or die $!;
		close $tty;

		## Execute requested program.
		exec "/bin/bash"
		#exec $cmd
			or die "problem executing /bin/bash\n";

	} # end child process

	return $pty;
} # end sub spawn