[Python-Dev] Alternative to os.system that takes a list of strings?

[Alex Coventry]

Hi.  I've found it convenient to use the function below to make system
calls, as I sometimes the strings I need to pass as arguments confuse
the shell used in os.system.  I was wondering whether it's worth passing
this upstream.  The main problem with doing so is that I have no idea
how to implement it on Windows, as I can't use the os.fork and os.wait*
functions in that context.

Alex.

import os

def system(command, args, environ=os.environ):

    '''The 'args'  variable is  a sequence of  strings that are  to be
    passed as the arguments to the command 'command'.'''

    # Fork off a process to be replaced by the command to be executed
    # when 'execve' is run.
    pid = os.fork()
    if pid == 0:

        # This is the child process; replace it.
        os.execvpe(command, [command,] + args, environ)

    # In the parent process; wait for the child process to finish.
    return_pid, return_value = os.waitpid(pid, 0)
    assert return_pid == pid
    return return_value

if __name__ == '__main__':

    print system('/bin/cat', ['/etc/hosts.allow', '/etc/passwd'])