Programming Tools Guide
Chapter 8, adb: absolute debugger

Using UNIX commands

Using UNIX commands

To execute UNIX commands without leaving adb, use the adb escape command !. The escape command has the following form:

! command

where command is the UNIX command to be executed. When finished, the shell returns control to adb. For example, to display the date, type:

   ! date
The system displays the date at your terminal and restores control to adb.