---
name: "ExtUtils::Command"
section: "3p"
platform: "openbsd"
package: "man"
version: "8.0-current-20261101"
release: "OpenBSD 8.0-current (2026-11-01)"
platforms: ["openbsd"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/ExtUtils::Command"
---

# ExtUtils::Command(3p)

utilities to replace common UNIX commands in Makefiles etc.

## NAME

ExtUtils::Command - utilities to replace common UNIX commands in Makefiles etc.

## SYNOPSIS

```
  perl -MExtUtils::Command -e cat files... > destination
  perl -MExtUtils::Command -e mv source... destination
  perl -MExtUtils::Command -e cp source... destination
  perl -MExtUtils::Command -e touch files...
  perl -MExtUtils::Command -e rm_f files...
  perl -MExtUtils::Command -e rm_rf directories...
  perl -MExtUtils::Command -e mkpath directories...
  perl -MExtUtils::Command -e eqtime source destination
  perl -MExtUtils::Command -e test_f file
  perl -MExtUtils::Command -e test_d directory
  perl -MExtUtils::Command -e chmod mode files...
  ...
```

## DESCRIPTION

The module is used to replace common UNIX commands.  In all cases the functions work from `@ARGV` rather than taking arguments.  This makes them easier to deal with in Makefiles.  Call them like this:

```
  perl -MExtUtils::Command -e some_command some files to work on
```

and *NOT* like this:

```
  perl -MExtUtils::Command -e 'some_command qw(some files to work on)'
```

For that use Shell::Command.

Filenames with \* and ? will be glob expanded.

### FUNCTIONS

- cat

  ```
      cat file ...
  ```

  Concatenates all files mentioned on command line to STDOUT.

- eqtime

  ```
      eqtime source destination
  ```

  Sets modified time of destination to that of source.

- rm\_rf

  ```
      rm_rf files or directories ...
  ```

  Removes files and directories - recursively (even if readonly)

- rm\_f

  ```
      rm_f file ...
  ```

  Removes files (even if readonly)

- touch

  ```
      touch file ...
  ```

  Makes files exist, with current timestamp

- mv

  ```
      mv source_file destination_file
      mv source_file source_file destination_dir
  ```

  Moves source to destination.  Multiple sources are allowed if destination is an existing directory.

  Returns true if all moves succeeded, false otherwise.

- cp

  ```
      cp source_file destination_file
      cp source_file source_file destination_dir
  ```

  Copies sources to the destination.  Multiple sources are allowed if destination is an existing directory.

  Returns true if all copies succeeded, false otherwise.

- chmod

  ```
      chmod mode files ...
  ```

  Sets UNIX like permissions 'mode' on all the files.  e.g. 0666

- mkpath

  ```
      mkpath directory ...
  ```

  Creates directories, including any parent directories.

- test\_f

  ```
      test_f file
  ```

  Tests if a file exists.  *Exits* with 0 if it does, 1 if it does not (ie. shell's idea of true and false).

- test\_d

  ```
      test_d directory
  ```

  Tests if a directory exists.  *Exits* with 0 if it does, 1 if it does not (ie. shell's idea of true and false).

- dos2unix

  ```
      dos2unix files or dirs ...
  ```

  Converts DOS and OS/2 linefeeds to Unix style recursively.

## SEE ALSO

Shell::Command which is these same functions but take arguments normally.

## AUTHOR

Nick Ing-Simmons `"ni-s@cpan.org"`

Maintained by Michael G Schwern `"schwern@pobox.com"` within the ExtUtils-MakeMaker package and, as a separate CPAN package, by Randy Kobes `"r.kobes@uwinnipeg.ca"`.