# Call an application from Ruby

**URL:** <https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/call-an-application-from-ruby/112711>\
**Category:** Ruby\
**Created:** [August 22, 2007, 1:30pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/call-an-application-from-ruby/112711 "2007-08-22T13:30:44Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![gugui](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/g/9de053/32.png) [@gugui](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/gugui)\
**Post date:** [August 22, 2007, 1:30pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/call-an-application-from-ruby/112711/1 "2007-08-22T13:30:44Z")

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Hi all, how to call an application from Ruby inside on Linux ?

I´d like to run ‘KCalc’ for example

thank any help

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**Author:** ![gugui](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/g/9de053/32.png) [@gugui](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/gugui)\
**Post date:** [August 22, 2007, 1:38pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/call-an-application-from-ruby/112711/2 "2007-08-22T13:38:01Z")

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Luiz M. wrote:

> Hi all, how to call an application from Ruby inside on Linux ?
> 
> I´d like to run ‘KCalc’ for example
> 
> thank any help

You can execute a system command by putting it between `backticks`. On  
Gnome, the calculator command is gcalctool and this works for me:

dan: /home/dan$ irb  
irb(main):001:0\> `gcalctool`  
=\> “”

best,  
Dan

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**Author:** ![gugui](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/g/9de053/32.png) [@gugui](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/gugui)\
**Post date:** [August 22, 2007, 4:16pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/call-an-application-from-ruby/112711/3 "2007-08-22T16:16:27Z")

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Daniel L. wrote:

> dan: /home/dan$ irb  
> irb(main):001:0\> `gcalctool`  
> =\> “”

You might also do this:

system(‘gcalctool’)