// Launch "ls -l -a -t" in the current directory, and then read the result into a string:

dim task as new NSTaskMBS

task.launchPath = "/bin/ls"

dim arguments(-1) as string = array("-l", "-a", "-t")

task.setArguments arguments

dim pipe as new NSPipeMBS

task.setStandardOutput pipe

dim file as NSFileHandleMBS = pipe.fileHandleForReading

task.launch

dim data as string = file.readDataToEndOfFile
dim text as string = DefineEncoding(data, encodings.UTF8)

MsgBox text

An NSTask object creates a separate executable entity; it differs from NSThread in that it does not share memory space with the process that creates it.
A task operates within an environment defined by the current values for several items: the current directory, standard input, standard output, standard error, and the values of any environment variables. By default, an NSTask object inherits its environment from the process that launches it. If there are any values that should be different for the task, for example, if the current directory should change, you must change the value before you launch the task. A task's environment cannot be changed while it is running.
An NSTask object can only be run once. Subsequent attempts to run the task raise an error.

This class is comparable to the shell classe built into Xojo.
See also WindowsProcessMBS and WindowsShellExecuteMBS (Windows only), ConsoleExecuteMBS and ShellMBS (cross platform).