gistfile1.rb

# So, with some help (and perhaps some faulty testing on my part initially) here
# is a solution I'm happy with.

def sphinx_version
  # STDERR redirection for Unix
  stderr      = $stderr.dup
  read, write = IO.pipe
  $stderr.reopen(write)
  `indexer`[/^Sphinx (\d\.\d\.\d)/, 1]
rescue # This catches errors for Windows
  nil
ensure
  $stderr.reopen(stderr)
end

# This is a combination of suggestions from Loren Segal in Montreal and Aman
# Gupta from San Francisco.
http://twitter.com/lsegal/statuses/6227142586
http://twitter.com/tmm1/status/6227225512

# There was also a strong solution from Lachie Cox of Sydney:
http://twitter.com/lachiecox/status/6229025008
http://gist.github.com/246149

# Others suggested using open3, which unfortunately doesn't work on Windows.
# Thanks all for your ideas and help, very much appreciated.