python - subprocess' check_output - return shell message

Question

Here is my code:

from subprocess import check_output
print check_output('whoami', shell=True)

This works fine.

However, if I put a command that isnt' existent it will say:

raise CalledProcessError(retcode, cmd, output=output)
CalledProcessError: Command 'test' returned non-zero exit status 1

When if you were to run this on your shell, it would say something like:

'test' isnot recognized as an intenral or external command, operable program or batch file.

How can I get this instead?

It's much more robust to use check_call which gives you a clear indication of a failure instead of having to look at the text. As to your question -- if you want the shell, use the shell. — Brian Cain
– Brian Cain, Commented Aug 14, 2014 at 14:40

vaultah · Accepted Answer · 2014-08-21 11:28:12Z

2

As you can read in the subprocess.check_output documentation:

If the return code was non-zero it raises a CalledProcessError. The CalledProcessError object will have the return code in the returncode attribute and any output in the output attribute.

So you can do this:

import subprocess

try:
    print subprocess.check_output('test', shell=True)
except subprocess.CalledProcessError, e:
    print e.output

edited Aug 21, 2014 at 11:28

vaultah

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answered Aug 14, 2014 at 14:43

enrico.bacis

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