sys.executeable documentation
The documentation of sys.executable indicates that this is the path to the python executable. It is actually the current running executable which may be python.exe. If the python C API is being used, this will report the executable which is embedding the python interpreter. Daniel Walter Senior Software Engineer Altair | Nasdaq: ALTR dwalter@altair.com | altair.com<https://www.altair.com/> Connect with us: LinkedIn<https://www.linkedin.com/company/altair-engineering/> | Twitter<https://twitter.com/altair_inc> | Facebook<https://www.facebook.com/altairengineering/> #OnlyForward - This message is a private communication intended only for the use of the addressee and may contain information that is PROPRIETARY and CONFIDENTIAL. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please erase all copies of the message and its attachments and notify the sender by replying to this message. Thank you.
Hi Daniel, On 6/18/20 6:19 PM, Daniel Walter wrote:
The documentation of sys.executable indicates that this is the path to the python executable. It is actually the current running executable which may be python.exe. If the python C API is being used, this will report the executable which is embedding the python interpreter.
To be precise, the documentation of sys.executable indicates:
path of the executable binary for the Python interpreter
Regardless the "executable binary for the Python interpreter" is python.exe or another binary which contains the Python interpreter, the documentation looks right to me. Any idea on how it could be enhanced? Bests, -- [Julien Palard](https://mdk.fr)
My concern with what is there is that it gives Python code the idea that it is safe to use sys.executable as a path to launch more Python interpreters. This is generally thought of as a safe and proper thing to do on stackoverflow and other programming sites, and it isn't safe. I tried using a library that did this from my applications startup routine and the library started another copy of my application which promptly called the library and suddenly there were 50 copies of my application running. Depending on where this is being used, this could be a significant security problem. Rather than saying "the executable binary for the Python interpreter", I think it would be clearer to say "the executable binary for the current process. WARNING this will not always be a Python interpreter." Daniel -----Original Message----- From: Julien Palard <julien@palard.fr> Sent: Friday, June 19, 2020 7:30 AM To: Daniel Walter <dwalter@altair.com>; docs@python.org Subject: Re: [docs] sys.executeable documentation Hi Daniel, On 6/18/20 6:19 PM, Daniel Walter wrote:
The documentation of sys.executable indicates that this is the path to the python executable. It is actually the current running executable which may be python.exe. If the python C API is being used, this will report the executable which is embedding the python interpreter.
To be precise, the documentation of sys.executable indicates:
path of the executable binary for the Python interpreter
Regardless the "executable binary for the Python interpreter" is python.exe or another binary which contains the Python interpreter, the documentation looks right to me. Any idea on how it could be enhanced? Bests, -- [Julien Palard](https://nam02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmdk.fr%2F&...)
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