Looks as if not the CMD.EXE internal command "ECHO" is executed, but an executable called echo.exe

Indeed, thanks.

It seems that system goes off searching the path for an executable with the name "echo.exe" instead of invoking the shell built in, and happens to find one that does wildcard expansion.

I always though that if you supplied a single string argument system invoked the shell and allowed it to perform the command resolution--which would mean that it would invoke the shell built-in in preference to searching the path.

It turns out that (on windows) it only does that if it "detects shell meta chars"--which it seems does not include * or \ or ^, as I would have assumed. Only '<', '>', '|' and '%'. Not even '&' or '&&' or '||' etc. Some attempt at *nix compatibility I think.

Examine what is said, not who speaks -- Silence betokens consent -- Love the truth but pardon error.
"Science is about questioning the status quo. Questioning authority".
In the absence of evidence, opinion is indistinguishable from prejudice.
RIP an inspiration; A true Folk's Guy

In reply to Re^2: system and wildcard expansion? by BrowserUk
in thread system and wildcard expansion? by BrowserUk

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