compile a java program as different user

Question

I am able to login as a different user using a shell script in Ubuntu, but I want to run a Java program in that user, but it halts there...

for example:

1. login as a guest user with limited permission
2. compile HelloWorld.java
3. java HelloWorld.java

The script I wrote:

USER=sameek
su $USER
javac HelloWorld.java echo compiled

Kindly show me a path to solve this problem

Answer 1

The problem with your script is that the su $USER line invokes a subshell and so the next command doesn't execute until that subshell is exited.

You probably want to do something more like:

USER=sameek
USERCMDS=/tmp/usercommands.$$
echo "JAVA_HOME=..." >>$USERCMDS
echo "PATH=\${JAVA_HOME}:\$PATH" >> $USERCMDS
echo "javac HelloWorld.java" >> $USERCMDS
chmod a+x $USERCMDS
su $USER -c $USERCMDS