One more method(on unix systems)
perl -e 'print "Load Average: ",(split)[0],$/' -n /proc/loadavg
would print like (eg,)
Load Average: 0.10
UPDATE
thanks to
Utilitarian
the above one-liner was tried on Linux system,
OS:Ubuntu 8.04.1
Kernel:2.6.24-16-generic i686 GNU/Linux
Perl: 5.8.8
Vivek
-- In accordance with the prarabdha of each, the One whose function it is to ordain makes each to act. What will not happen will never happen, whatever effort one may put forth. And what will happen will not fail to happen, however much one may seek to prevent it. This is certain. The part of wisdom therefore is to stay quiet.