#!/usr/bin/awk -f

BEGIN {
    # Turn off buffering with bash
    coproc = "stdbuf -i0 -o0 -e0 bash"

    i = 0

    # Commands we'll send
    com[i++] = "date"
    com[i++] = "whoami"
    com[i++] = "id"
    com[i++] = "exit"

    i = 0

    # Write and read in a loop → buffering problems?
    do {
        print com[i++] |& coproc
        coproc |& getline results
        if (i in com) print ":", results
    } while (i in com)
    close(coproc)

}

# vim: syntax=awk:ts=8:sw=4:ai:et:tw=78:fo=tcrqn21