How to use export with Python on Linux

Question

I need to make an export like this in Python :

# export MY_DATA="my_export"

I've tried to do :

# -*- python-mode -*-
# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
import os
os.system('export MY_DATA="my_export"')

But when I list export, "MY_DATA" not appear :

# export

How I can do an export with Python without saving "my_export" into a file ?

Answer 1

os.system ('/home/user1/exportPath.ksh')

exportPath.ksh:

export PATH=MY_DATA="my_export"

Answer 2

In the hope of providing clarity over common cinfusion...

I have written many python <--> bash <--> elfbin toolchains and the proper way to see it is such as this:

Each process (originator) has a state of the environment inherited from whatever invoked it. Any change remains lokal to that process. Transfering an environment state is a function by itself and runs in two directions, each with it's own caveats. The most common thing is to modify environment before running a sub-process. To go down to the metal, look at the exec() - call in C. There is a variant that takes a pointer to environment data. This is the only actually supported transfer of environment in typical OS'es.

Shell scripts will create a state to pass when running children when you do an export. Otherwise it just uses that which it got in the first place.

In all other cases it will be some generic mechanism used to pass a set of data to allow the calling process itself to update it's environment based on the result of the child-processes output.

Ex:

ENVUPDATE = $(CMD_THAT_OUTPUTS_KEYVAL_LISTS)
echo $ENVUPDATE > $TMPFILE
source $TMPFILE

The same can of course be done using json, xml or other things as long as you have the tools to interpret and apply.

The need for this may be (50% chance) a sign of misconstruing the basic primitives and that you need a better config or parameter interchange in your solution.....

Oh, in python I would do something like... (need improvement depending on your situation)

import re

RE_KV=re.compile('([a-z][\w]*)\s*=\s*(.*)')

OUTPUT=RunSomething(...) (Assuming 'k1=v1 k2=v2')

for kv in OUTPUT.split(' ')
  try:
    k,v=RE_KV.match(kv).groups()
    os.environ[k]=str(v)
  except:
    #The not a property case...
    pass

Answer 3

export is a command that you give directly to the shell (e.g. bash), to tell it to add or modify one of its environment variables. You can't change your shell's environment from a child process (such as Python), it's just not possible.

Here's what's happening with you try os.system('export MY_DATA="my_export"')...

/bin/bash process, command `python yourscript.py` forks python subprocess
 |_
   /usr/bin/python process, command `os.system()` forks /bin/sh subprocess
    |_
      /bin/sh process, command `export ...` changes local environment

When the bottom-most /bin/sh subprocess finishes running your export ... command, then it's discarded, along with the environment that you have just changed.

Answer 4

You could try os.environ["MY_DATA"] instead.

Answer 5

Not that simple:

python -c "import os; os.putenv('MY_DATA','1233')"
$ echo $MY_DATA # <- empty

But:

python -c "import os; os.putenv('MY_DATA','123'); os.system('bash')"
$ echo $MY_DATA #<- 123

Answer 6

Kind of a hack because it's not really python doing anything special here, but if you run the export command in the same sub-shell, you will probably get the result you want.

import os

cmd = "export MY_DATA='1234'; echo $MY_DATA" # or whatever command
os.system(cmd)