Execute shell command and retrieve stdout in Python [duplicate]

Question

In Perl, if I want to execute a shell command such as foo, I'll do this:

#!/usr/bin/perl
$stdout = `foo`

In Python I found this very complex solution:

#!/usr/bin/python
import subprocess
p = subprocess.Popen('foo', shell=True, stdout=subprocess.PIPE, stderr=subprocess.STDOUT)
stdout = p.stdout.readlines()
retval = p.wait()

Is there any better solution ?

Notice that I don't want to use call or os.system. I would like to place stdout on a variable

OK fair enough, in which case you're up against questions like stackoverflow.com/q/89228/2088135 — Tom Fenech
– Tom Fenech, Commented Oct 29, 2015 at 12:35
Python and Perl are both high level scripting language but with different philosophies. Perl intends to let programmer do as less typing as possible, while Python forces neat structure to have easy to read code. You won't find expression unless condition either for same reason. — Serge Ballesta
– Serge Ballesta, Commented Oct 29, 2015 at 12:42
@TomFenech: I don't see how this question is related to the one you link to, which is about converting a path string — Borodin
– Borodin, Commented Oct 29, 2015 at 12:54

Hooting · Accepted Answer · 2015-10-29 13:05:22Z

5

An easy way is to use sh package. some examples:

import sh
print(sh.ls("/"))

# same thing as above
from sh import ls
print(ls("/"))

edited Oct 29, 2015 at 13:05

answered Oct 29, 2015 at 12:44

Hooting

1,72111 silver badges20 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

Comments

ShadowRanger · Accepted Answer · 2015-10-29 12:45:59Z

0

Read more of the subprocess docs. It has a lot of simplifying helper functions:

output = subprocess.check_output('foo', shell=True, stderr=subprocess.STDOUT)

answered Oct 29, 2015 at 12:45

ShadowRanger

158k12 gold badges221 silver badges314 bronze badges

1 Comment

ShadowRanger Over a year ago

Also, you probably don't need shell=True in most cases and should avoid it for performance and security reasons in general (similarly, in Perl, it's best to avoid backticks for the same reason, in favor of solutions like 3+ arg open and reading the resulting file handle).

H Neb · Accepted Answer · 2015-10-29 12:56:19Z

0

You can try this

import os
print os.popen('ipconfig').read()
#'ipconfig' is an example of command

answered Oct 29, 2015 at 12:56

H Neb

358 bronze badges

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

Execute shell command and retrieve stdout in Python [duplicate]

3 Answers 3

Comments

1 Comment

Comments

Linked

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

3 Answers 3

Comments

1 Comment

Comments

Linked

Related