Programming for IOS, how is it done?

Question

On my Cisco 800 router in my home, I am seeing something called the "IOS", I know it is Internetwork Operating System. But in the world of programming is this a language like Python, Ruby, Java, etc? If you wanted to write a script that runs on the router itself, not having another computer open a socket go to the device and running some shell command. Something as simple as broadcast attached devices to my router every 60 minutes. What are we talking here for the actual program that is used to write an IOS?

Answer 1

If you want to write a program that talks to your router, search for a program called expect - it will serve you well. It uses the serial port of the router to do so.

In answer to your basic question, no, you can't write a program that is downloaded to a router that will run on it.