String parameter using subprocess module

Question

I am using Python to simplify some commands in Maven. I have this script which calls mvn test in debug mode.

from subprocess import call
commands = []
commands.append("mvn")
commands.append("test")
commands.append("-Dmaven.surefire.debug=\"-Xdebug -Xrunjdwp:transport=dt_socket,server=y,suspend=y,address=8000 -Xnoagent -Djava.compiler=NONE\"")
call(commands)

The problem is with line -Dmaven.surefire.debug which accepts parameter which has to be in quotas and I don't know how to do that correctly. It looks fine when I print this list but when I run the script I get Error translating CommandLine and the debugging line is never executed.

Yes, I've tried few quotas combinations (and also without them) — Petr Mensik
– Petr Mensik, Commented Jan 17, 2013 at 8:55
did you tried splitting the commands.append at space in your string ? — Gcmalloc
– Gcmalloc, Commented Jan 17, 2013 at 9:01
@Gcmalloc The "`" serve to protect the spaces, so splitting at the spaces seems inappropriate. — glglgl
– glglgl, Commented Jan 17, 2013 at 9:02

glglgl · Accepted Answer · 2013-01-17 09:01:12Z

1

The quotas are only required for the shell executing the command.

If you do the said call directly from the shell, you probably do

mvn test -Dmaven.surefire.debug="-Xdebug -Xrunjdwp:transport=dt_socket,server=y,suspend=y,address=8000 -Xnoagent -Djava.compiler=NONE"

With these " signs you (simply spoken) tell the shell to ignore the spaces within.

The program is called with the arguments

mvn
test
-Dmaven.surefire.debug=-Xdebug -Xrunjdwp:transport=dt_socket,server=y,suspend=y,address=8000 -Xnoagent -Djava.compiler=NONE

so

from subprocess import call
commands = []
commands.append("mvn")
commands.append("test")
commands.append("-Dmaven.surefire.debug=-Xdebug -Xrunjdwp:transport=dt_socket,server=y,suspend=y,address=8000 -Xnoagent -Djava.compiler=NONE")
call(commands)

should be the way to go.

answered Jan 17, 2013 at 9:01

glglgl

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1 Comment

Petr Mensik Over a year ago

Yeah, it really works, I must have made a typo when I was trying it. Thanks!

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