programmatically executing and terminating a long-running batch process in python

Question

I have been searching for a way to start and terminate a long-running \"batch jobs\" in python. Right now I\'m using \"os.system()\" to launch a long-running batch job insid

Answer 1

subprocess module is the proper way to spawn and control processes in Python.

from the docs:

The subprocess module allows you to spawn new processes, connect to their input/output/error pipes, and obtain their return codes. This module intends to replace several other, older modules and functions, such as:

os.system
os.spawn
os.popen
popen2
commands

so... if you are on Python 2.4+, subprocess is the replacement for os.system

for stopping processes, check out the terminate() and communicate() methods of Popen objects.