distrobox/docs/usage/distrobox-host-exec.md

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# NAME

	distrobox-host-exec

# DESCRIPTION

distrobox-host-exec lets one execute command on the host, while inside of a container.

Under the hood, distrobox-host-exec uses `host-spawn` a project that lets us
execute commands back on the host.
If the tool is not found the user will be prompted to install it.

# SYNOPSIS

Just pass to "distrobox-host-exec" any command and all its arguments, if any.

	--help/-h:		show this message
	--verbose/-v:		show more verbosity
	--version/-V:		show version
	--yes/-Y:		Automatically answer yes to prompt:
                                host-spawn will be installed on the guest system
                                if host-spawn is not detected.
                                This behaviour is default when running in a non-interactive shell.

If no command is provided, it will execute "$SHELL".

Alternatively, you can symlink a command name to `distrobox-host-exec`
and then call that command by its name on the host, while inside of a container.

# EXAMPLES

## Run individual commands

	distrobox-host-exec ls
	distrobox-host-exec bash -l
	distrobox-host-exec flatpak run org.mozilla.firefox
	distrobox-host-exec podman ps -a

## Drop into host shell

	~$: distrobox-host-exec # No command, executes "$SHELL" on the host
	~$: distrobox-host-exec # This command now runs on the host
	You must run  distrobox-host-exec inside a container!

## Symlinking host commands

Use the host command name to create a symlink to `distrobox-host-exec`.
You can then call the host command from within the container.

	~$: git # We do not have git in the container
	bash: git: command not found
	~$: sudo ln -s /usr/bin/distrobox-host-exec /usr/local/bin/git
	~$: git version
	git version 2.51.1

You can control podman on the host from within the container as follows:

	~$: ln -s /usr/bin/distrobox-host-exec /usr/local/bin/podman
	~$: ls -l /usr/local/bin/podman
	lrwxrwxrwx. 1 root root 51 Jul 11 19:26 /usr/local/bin/podman -> /usr/bin/distrobox-host-exec
	~$: podman version
	...this is executed on host...