title: Ruby, Difference between exec, system and %x() or Backticks
body: <p>What is the difference between the following Ruby methods?</p>
  
  <p><code>exec</code>, <code>system</code> and <code>%x()</code> or <em>Backticks</em></p>
  
  <p>I know they are used to execute terminal commands programmatically via Ruby, but I'd like to know why there are three different ways to do this.</p>