Python - runout() and runret() functions

shrun.py

""" https://gist.github.com/1978810
shutil.runret() and shutil.runout() functions

runret(command)   - run command through shell, return ret code
runout(command)   - run command through shell, return output

Public Domain, i.e. free for copy/paste

https://groups.google.com/d/topic/python-ideas/u42aZZnrs8A/discussion
https://bitbucket.org/techtonik/shellrun
"""

import subprocess

def runret(command):
  """ Run command through shell, return ret code """
  # [ ] silence all output
  return subprocess.call(command, shell=True)

def runout(command):
  """ Run command through shell, return output (stdout + stderr)

  [ ] cyclic buffer reader in separate thread to avoid deadlock
      if process writes too much
  """
  return subprocess.Popen(command, shell=True, stdout=subprocess.PIPE,
                          stderr=subprocess.STDOUT).communicate()[0]

See https://bitbucket.org/techtonik/shutil-run/ for more pythonic alternative.