node.js execute system command synchronously

Question

I need in node.js function

result = execSync('node -v');

that will synchronously execute the given command line and return all stdout'ed by that command text.

ps. Sync is wrong. I know. Just for personal use.

UPDATE

Now we have mgutz's solution which gives us exit code, but not stdout! Still waiting for a more precise answer.

UPDATE

mgutz updated his answer and the solution is here :)
Also, as dgo.a mentioned, there is stand-alone module exec-sync

UPDATE 2014-07-30

ShellJS lib arrived. Consider this is the best choice for now.

---

UPDATE 2015-02-10

AT LAST! NodeJS 0.12 supports execSync natively.
See official docs

Answer 1

Node.js (since version 0.12 - so for a while) supports execSync:

child_process.execSync(command[, options])

You can now directly do this:

const execSync = require('child_process').execSync;
code = execSync('node -v');

and it'll do what you expect. (Defaults to pipe the i/o results to the parent process). Note that you can also spawnSync now.