I'm working with Python 2.7 on Windows 8/XP.
I have a program A that runs another program B using the following code:
p = Popen(["B"], stdout=PIPE, stderr=PIPE)
stdout, stderr = p.communicate()
return
B runs a batch script C. C is a long running script and I want B to exit even though C has not finished. I have done it using the following code (in B):
p = Popen(["C"])
return
When I run B, it works as expected. When I run A however, I expected it to exit when B exits. But A waits until C exits even though B has already exitted. Any ideas on what's happening and what possible solutions could be?
Unfortunately, the obvious solution of changing A to look like B is not an option.
Here is a functional sample code to illustrate this issue:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/cbplwjpmydogvu2/popen.zip?dl=1
Any input is much appreciated.
You could provide start_new_session
analog for the C
subprocess:
#!/usr/bin/env python
import os
import sys
import platform
from subprocess import Popen, PIPE
# set system/version dependent "start_new_session" analogs
kwargs = {}
if platform.system() == 'Windows':
# from msdn [1]
CREATE_NEW_PROCESS_GROUP = 0x00000200 # note: could get it from subprocess
DETACHED_PROCESS = 0x00000008 # 0x8 | 0x200 == 0x208
kwargs.update(creationflags=DETACHED_PROCESS | CREATE_NEW_PROCESS_GROUP)
elif sys.version_info < (3, 2): # assume posix
kwargs.update(preexec_fn=os.setsid)
else: # Python 3.2+ and Unix
kwargs.update(start_new_session=True)
p = Popen(["C"], stdin=PIPE, stdout=PIPE, stderr=PIPE, **kwargs)
assert not p.poll()
[1]: Process Creation Flags for CreateProcess()
Here is a code snippet adapted from Sebastian's answer and this answer:
#!/usr/bin/env python
import os
import sys
import platform
from subprocess import Popen, PIPE
# set system/version dependent "start_new_session" analogs
kwargs = {}
if platform.system() == 'Windows':
# from msdn [1]
CREATE_NEW_PROCESS_GROUP = 0x00000200 # note: could get it from subprocess
DETACHED_PROCESS = 0x00000008 # 0x8 | 0x200 == 0x208
kwargs.update(creationflags=DETACHED_PROCESS | CREATE_NEW_PROCESS_GROUP, close_fds=True)
elif sys.version_info < (3, 2): # assume posix
kwargs.update(preexec_fn=os.setsid)
else: # Python 3.2+ and Unix
kwargs.update(start_new_session=True)
p = Popen(["C"], stdin=PIPE, stdout=PIPE, stderr=PIPE, **kwargs)
assert not p.poll()
I've only tested it personally on Windows.