write(1)write(1)Namewrite - write message to another user
Syntaxwrite user [ttyname]
Description
The command copies lines from your terminal to that of another user.
When first called, it sends the message
Message from yoursystem!yourname yourttyname...
The recipient of the message should write back at this point. Communi‐
cation continues until an end of file is read from the terminal or an
interrupt is sent. At that point writes `EOT' on the other terminal
and exits.
If you want to write to a user who is logged in more than once, the
ttyname argument may be used to indicate the appropriate terminal name.
Permission to write may be denied or granted by use of the mesg com‐
mand. At the outset writing is allowed. Certain commands, in particu‐
lar and disallow messages in order to prevent messy output.
If the character `!' is found at the beginning of a line, calls the
shell to execute the rest of the line as a command.
The following protocol is suggested for using when you first write to
another user, wait for him to write back before starting to send. Each
party should end each message with a distinctive signal. The letter `o'
is the convention for `over' which indicates that the message is com‐
plete. The letters `oo' are the convention for `over and out' which is
used when the conversation is about to be terminated.
Files
/etc/utmp to find user
/bin/sh to execute `!'
See Alsomail(1), mesg(1), who(1)write(1)
