Wrapping an interactive command line application in a Python script

Question

I am interested in controlling an interactive CLI application from Python calls.

I guess at the most basic level I need a Python script that will start a CLI applicat

Answer 1

Does PExpect fits your needs?

Answer 2

Maybe you want something from Subprocess (MOTW).

I use code like this to make calls out to the shell:

from subprocess import Popen, PIPE

## shell out, prompt
def shell(args, input=''):
    ''' uses subprocess pipes to call out to the shell.

    args:  args to the command
    input:  stdin

    returns stdout, stderr
    '''
    p = Popen(args, stdin=PIPE, stdout=PIPE, stderr=PIPE)
    stdout, stderr = p.communicate(input=input)
    return stdout, stderr