Python - How to call bash commands with pipe?

Asked 2011-09-06T17:37:12.587

26

I can run this normally on the command line in Linux:

$ tar c my_dir | md5sum

But when I try to call it with Python I get an error:

>>> subprocess.Popen(['tar','-c','my_dir','|','md5sum'],shell=True)
<subprocess.Popen object at 0x26c0550>
>>> tar: You must specify one of the `-Acdtrux' or `--test-label'  options
Try `tar --help' or `tar --usage' for more information.

python popen subprocess

Edit Report

1 Answer

11

Ok, I'm not sure why but this seems to work:

subprocess.call("tar c my_dir | md5sum",shell=True)

Anyone know why the original code doesn't work?

answered 2011-09-06T17:45:14.537

Python - How to call bash commands with pipe?

1 Answer

Your Answer