// returns file with program output (STDOUT+STDERR)
static File backtickToConsole(S cmd) {
  ping();
  File outputFile = createTempFile(cmd, ".out");
  makeEmptyFile(outputFile); // unnecessary?
  TailFile tail = tailFile2(outputFile, 1000, l1 printNoNewLine_fix);
  
  // make a dependent child process that is exited when we exit
  print("Running: " + cmd);
  pcall {
    backtickToFile(cmd, outputFile);
  }
  tail.stop();
  ret outputFile;
}