is it possible to do a single password command in linux like in unix

echo password | passwd username --stdin

I tried compiling expect but it didn't like that to much. does anyone know of a way to do this

John
--slackware 8.1

Hi John.

You can get the latest version of expect and tcl/tk in a ready to install package
at www.activestate.com. Very simple.
Just uninstall your old tcl/tk/expect
junk first to save yourself some hassle.

#!/usr/bin/expect

set pprpmt ".*asswor.*"
set user [lindex $argv 0]

proc newpass {} {
puts -nonewline stdout "New Password: "
flush stdout
stty -echo
if {![catch {set p [gets stdin]}]} {
stty echo
return $p
}
return 1
}

spawn passwd $user
set id $spawn_id

expect {

-re "$pprmpt" {
set pass [newpass]
send "$pass\r"
expect {
-re "$pprmpt" {
send "$pass\r"
catch {unset pass}
}

eof {
send_user "All done\n"
exit
}
}
}
}

call like:
newpass.exp $username

HTH