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Python System Command - os.system(), subprocess.call()

Published on August 3, 2022
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By Pankaj

Python System Command - os.system(), subprocess.call()

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In this tutorial we will learn about Python System Command. Previously we learned about Python Random Number.

Python System Command

While making a program in python, you may need to exeucte some shell commands for your program. For example, if you use Pycharm IDE, you may notice that there is option to share your project on github. And you probably know that file transferring is done by git, which is operated using command line. So, Pycharm executes some shell commands in background to do it. However, In this tutorial we will learn some basics about executing shell commands from your python code.

Python os.system() function

We can execute system command by using os.system() function. According to the official document, it has been said that

This is implemented by calling the Standard C function system(), and has the same limitations.

However, if command generates any output, it is sent to the interpreter standard output stream. Using this command is not recommended. In the following code we will try to know the version of git using the system command git --version.

import os

cmd = "git --version"

returned_value = os.system(cmd)  # returns the exit code in unix
print('returned value:', returned_value)

The following output found in ubuntu 16.04 where git is installed already.

git version 2.14.2
returned value: 0

Notice that we are not printing the git version command output to console, it’s being printed because console is the standard output stream here.

Python subprocess.call() Function

In the previous section, we saw that os.system() function works fine. But it’s not recommended way to execute shell commands. We will use Python subprocess module to execute system commands. We can run shell commands by using subprocess.call() function. See the following code which is equivalent to the previous code.

import subprocess

cmd = "git --version"

returned_value = subprocess.call(cmd, shell=True)  # returns the exit code in unix
print('returned value:', returned_value)

And the output will be same also. Python System Command

Python subprocess.check_output() function

So far, we executed the system commands with the help of python. But we could not manipulate the output produced by those commands. Using subprocess.check_output() function we can store the output in a variable.

import subprocess

cmd = "date"

# returns output as byte string
returned_output = subprocess.check_output(cmd)

# using decode() function to convert byte string to string
print('Current date is:', returned_output.decode("utf-8"))

It will produce output like the following

Current date is: Thu Oct  5 16:31:41 IST 2017

So, in the above sections we have discussed about basic ideas about executing python system command. But there is no limit in learning. If you wish, you can learn more about Python System command using subprocess module from official documentation.

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JournalDev
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December 11, 2020

import subprocess # Command to execute cmd = “termux-location” # Execute Command ecmd = subprocess.check_output(cmd) # Save Output to Variable scmd = ecmd.decode(‘utf-8’) # Access data # Adjust right and left value to narrow in on desired information print(scmd[16:27])

- Eric Wess

    JournalDev
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    October 27, 2020

    a=os.popen("python manage.py test’').read() print(a) a---->> ’ ’

    - Ahmed Elgammudi

      JournalDev
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      September 30, 2020

      How can we access 3rd party cli commands like executing redis-cli commands or mongodb commands, in which a new shell is popped up

      - Shivam

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        May 13, 2020

        The only way to achieve happiness is to cherish what you have and forget what you don’t have

        - Salome.Taylor

          JournalDev
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          April 7, 2020

          how to store os.system output to a variable and print later is it possible

          - krishna

            JournalDev
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            November 18, 2019

            Hey Guys, I am using python3.6.9, need some help here - I am coming from a perl background, trying to find a way to run a command (say for example ‘df’ command and store the output of columns 2 and 6 (size and name) in a key,value pair in a hash(dict in python world) and/or push these into a list which can be called from anywhere in the script- I have not seen very many examples of this kind of logic - any help is appreciated. Thanks

            - Ubaid

              JournalDev
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              July 17, 2019

              Q. import subprocess cmd = “ps -ef | wc -l” returned_output = subprocess.check_output(cmd) print(returned_output.decode(“utf-8”)) not working in Case command using with pipe

              - uttam kumar

                JournalDev
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                May 26, 2019

                with python 2 no need to decode ,

                - abdallah

                  JournalDev
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                  March 12, 2019

                  I want include a variable which stores the result of previous command in subprocess.Popen({“command here”],subprocess.PIPE) example: state = “here” cmd = [“”" grep -i $state /log/messages"“”]

                  - shruhthilaya

                    JournalDev
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                    March 7, 2019

                    Hello, what if after executing command, cmd prompts something like “Press any key to continue or ctrl-c to cancel” and I basically need to somehow send any key press. Thanks for post.

                    - Paulius

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