What does it mean when this code is "System Dependent"?

Question

I am asking regarding this post: How to Clear Console: Java

The accepted answer is for clearing the console in Java is:

Runtime.getRuntime().exec("cls");

However, the poster mentioned that this code will be "system dependent". What does the poster mean by this?

(my rep does not allow me to comment on the post).

score 5 · Accepted Answer · answered Mar 06 '14 at 23:09

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It means that the command won't work on all systems. cls is a command to clear a command window in Windows. But in Unix, for example, that's not a defined command.

$ cls
ksh: cls:  not found

That Java code depends on a cls command being available.

answered Mar 06 '14 at 23:09

rgettman

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So essentially, Java utilizes the OS's commands to clear its own console? So is the Java console an "extension" of the OS console? – Jukebocks77 Mar 06 '14 at 23:12
No, this Java code runs an external (to Java) process called "cls", which happens to clear the console in Windows (the console is not owned by Java). – rgettman Mar 06 '14 at 23:14
Right, I come from computer hardware and "system" has a much different meaning. Excuse my newbiness :p – Jukebocks77 Mar 07 '14 at 03:11

score 2 · Answer 2 · answered Mar 06 '14 at 23:09

It means that the command is reliant on the current platform to support it. For example ls is a Linux/Unix command, which won't run on Windows, unless you actually have a ls program installed. Equally dir is Windows based command.

This makes the statement "System Dependent", restricting it's execution ability to a single (family) of platforms...

score 2 · Answer 3 · answered Mar 06 '14 at 23:10

2

Most likely because cls is a Windows/DOS command, and wouldn't work on other operating systems.

For example, in a Windows console, you'd clear your screen like so:

C:\>cls

On, say, Unix, you'd use the clear command:

$ clear

answered Mar 06 '14 at 23:10

Mike Christensen

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Reimeus · Answer 4 · 2014-03-06T23:17:32.437

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It means it will only work on certain platforms. cls is a command specific to Windows platforms. The command will not work on Unix/Linux systems for example where the equivalent clear command is used to clear the screen

edited Mar 06 '14 at 23:17

answered Mar 06 '14 at 23:09

Reimeus

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score 0 · Answer 5 · answered Jan 11 '15 at 11:39

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System dependent means that it won't work on some platforms. cls will only work on Windows.

answered Jan 11 '15 at 11:39

Epic

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What does it mean when this code is "System Dependent"?

5 Answers5