calling bash from python

Question

I have a python script which calles a bash script. The bash script compiles several modules and I would like to seethe result of the compilation printed on screen while running.

Most important, anyway, is that the bash script requires a run time quite some few input from the user. How can I make my python script give stdin/stdout to the bash script?

For the moment I am using

(_stat, _resl) = commands.getstatusoutput("./myBashScript")

but in this way the user is not promped of anything while the bash is running...

Cheers

Danica · Accepted Answer · 2012-05-04 13:04:40Z

3

If you use subprocess (as you should!) and don't specify stdin/stdout/stderr, they'll operate normally. For example:

# lol.py
import subprocess
p = subprocess.Popen(['cat'])
p.wait()

$ python lol.py
hello
hello
catting
catting

You could also process stdout as you like:

# lol.py
import subprocess

p = subprocess.Popen(['cat'], stdout=subprocess.PIPE)
p.wait()

print "\n\nOutput was:"
print p.stdout.read()

$ python lol.py
hello
catting

^D

Output was:
hello
catting

answered May 4, 2012 at 13:04

Danica

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2 Comments

LarsH Over a year ago

Could you elaborate on "as you should"? I'd like to know whether subprocess is a good choice for my situation. I'm not asking for a comprehensive essay, but knowing why you think the OP should use subprocess in his situation would help.

Danica Over a year ago

@LarsH I just meant that subprocess is now the preferred module for any kind of process-calling, rather than commands, os.popen, os.system, etc.

Spencer Rathbun · Accepted Answer · 2012-05-04 13:08:13Z

1

Try the envoy library.

import envoy
r = envoy.connect('./myBashScript')
r.send('input text') # send info on std_in
r.expect('output text') # block until text seen
print r.std_out # print whatever is in the std_out pipe

answered May 4, 2012 at 13:08

Spencer Rathbun

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Comments

johnshen64 · Accepted Answer · 2012-05-04 13:00:43Z

0

You can use os.system open a terminal window for that, such as gnome-terminal, to run the bash script.

answered May 4, 2012 at 13:00

johnshen64

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