Sending CMD command prompts using Subprocess (Python)

Question

This is a beginner level question for anyone pro in subprocess.

In Windows, is it possible for me to send the following CMD commands using subprocesssuch that they are executed one after another in a single shell:

cd C:\Users\User\myvirtualenvs\project1
Scripts\activate.bat
Hello.py

Effectively, I am trying to load the Virtualenv without having to manually myself touch CMD prompt.

Thanks in advance :)

I think (but I’m no cmd expert) that you separate the commands with &&. — Davis Herring
– Davis Herring, Commented Mar 24, 2018 at 3:00

Franz Forstmayr · Accepted Answer · 2018-03-24 16:18:18Z

2

Just like mentioned in the Comment with &&:

from subprocess import call

call(r'cd C:\ && echo 123 && dir', shell=True)

Please notice the shell=True argument.

Edit due to comment:

Shell=True is an security issue, if you're passing raw input values to the call. See this example from the docs:

from subprocess import call
filename = input("What file would you like to display?\n")
>>> What file would you like to display?
>>> non_existent; rm -rf / #
call("cat " + filename, shell=True) # Uh-oh. This will end badly...

In initially thought you want to make a small script for personal purposes. If you want to give this code away, think about packaging your code via distutils or setuptools.

edited Mar 24, 2018 at 16:18

answered Mar 24, 2018 at 3:42

Franz Forstmayr

1,3101 gold badge15 silver badges32 bronze badges

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

5 Comments

phd Over a year ago

"cd C:\\" <- double backslashes! Or use raw strings.

Stan Over a year ago

Thank you. I am planning to give this program to other users eventually and hence I would like to ask if its possible to do it without "shell=True" as I heard that it has some security issues.

Stan Over a year ago

Just as a side note, in the meanwhile, I did manage to do the above thingies using AutoIT :D, but yes if I can have a clean python way to do it, it would be preferrable :)

JohanL Over a year ago

As long as you completely control the input string, it is "safe" to use shell=True. One way or another you are forced to open a subshell, in order to run your commands in sequence and have them remember the settings from activate.bat. And, as soon as you have opened a subshell, shell commands can be run from within it. Also, if you are afraid of malicious usage, it is equally dangerous to just allow the user access to cmd.exe.

JohanL Over a year ago

As a sidenote, why are you not just making a very simple .bat file instead, doing what you want? What is the benefit of using a Python subprocess?

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

Sending CMD command prompts using Subprocess (Python)

1 Answer 1

5 Comments

Your Answer

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

1 Answer 1

5 Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Related