embedexe

Run a program stored in a byte array such as an executable or a directory of executables embedded in a Go binary.

LIMITATIONS

• the executable must either be statically linked or the linked libraries available on the filesystem
• only works on Linux (but not on ChromeOS/crostini where the W^X policies disable executing memfds)
• an embedded executable cannot run another executable embedded in the same binary
• an embedded executable cannot use a library embedded in the same binary

EXAMPLES

• embedexe: Using a file descriptor path
• embedexe/fdexec: Using a file descriptor
• embedexe/exec: Using a byte array
• fsexe: embed a directory of executables in a Go binary and run from memory

Run an embedded executable

// Echotest forks and runs an embedded echo(1).
//
//	cp /bin/echo .
//	go build
//	./echotest hello world
package main

import (
	_ "embed"
	"log"
	"os"

	"codeberg.org/msantos/embedexe/exec"
)

//go:embed echo
var echo []byte

func main() {
	cmd := exec.Command(echo, os.Args[1:]...)

	cmd.Stdout = os.Stdout
	cmd.Stderr = os.Stderr

	if err := cmd.Run(); err != nil {
		log.Fatalln("run:", cmd, err)
	}
}