Python equivalent of shell's '$?'

[Andrew McNamara]

>>I can't quite remember exactly what the problem was (I seem to recall
>>that the errno returned was not what the called program returned). This
>>was using both open and backticks. It was yet another nail in the coffin
>>that is my opinion of perl ;)
>
>You should read the manual page for the wait() system call, because this is
>what os.system() is returning. In particular, the returned value is the
>exit status of the sub-process shifted left 8 times (or multiplied by 256)
>- at least when the process exits of it's own volition - otherwise the
>cause of death is encoded. The manual page should explain all.

Actually, the python doco is probably clearer. Look towards the end of:

    http://www.python.org/doc/current/lib/os-process.html

-- 
Andrew McNamara, Senior Developer, Object Craft
http://www.object-craft.com.au/