[Biopython-dev] subprocess and calling application wrappers

[Eric Talevich]

On Wed, Jun 2, 2010 at 7:59 AM, Peter <biopython at maubp.freeserve.co.uk>wrote:

>
> Even if the Python documentation seems to be discouraging it,
> using os.system() seems simple, robust, and cross platform. We
> could even update the tutorial now and post it online - it should
> make some people's lives a little easier.
>

The Python docs claim os.system(cmd) is equivalent to subprocess.call(cmd,
shell=True):
http://docs.python.org/library/subprocess.html#replacing-os-system

As I understood it, the reason for usually skipping the shell on Unix
systems was for additional security -- the called program sees the same
thing either way.

Should we use this as a "teachable moment" involving the subprocess module
in the tutorial?

-Eric