Simple question for all of you python gurus

[Cameron Laird]

In article <pan.2004.02.27.10.23.57.126600 at jeremysanders.net>,
Jeremy Sanders  <jeremy+plusnews at jeremysanders.net> wrote:
>On Thu, 26 Feb 2004 23:14:33 +0000, Cameron Laird wrote:
>
>>   os.chdir("/home/%s/.tmda/pending" % userid)
>>   li = os.popen(...
>
>Wouldn't something like this also work?
>
>li = os.popen('/bin/sh -c "cd /home/%s; /usr/bin/grep -i %s blah"')
>
>This has the advantage that the current directory of the Python program
>doesn't change.
			.
			.
			.
Yes.

I want to make it explicit:  yes, "/bin/sh -c ..." *does* work,
it's a good technique to keep in mind, and it does have the 
advantage you describe (assuming proper resolution of the %s-s
above).

Even for Python, there frequently are multiple solutions.  I
speculated that the original poster would feel most comfortable
with os.chdir(), and choose not to mention other possibilities.

As valuable as "/bin/sh -c ..." is, some people avoid it for 
its Unix-specificity, or even its multiplication of process
count.
-- 

Cameron Laird <claird at phaseit.net>
Business:  http://www.Phaseit.net