Background process that will kill the current process

Question

I'm writing a python script that may execute an external bash script. This bash script does something, and after it's done executing, it will kill the python process, and possibly restart the machine.

It is by design that the bash script would kill the python process and restart the machine, but I'm not sure whether it will still continue executing even if it's parent python process dies. Since the machine will restart after the bash script completes, I'm not interested with its output.

Will the bash script still continue running even after the parent python process dies?

Why don't you just try this experiment or search the internets? — kirelagin, Jun 09 '13 at 07:31

korylprince · Accepted Answer · 2013-06-09T07:46:38.583

1

If you use:

os.system('/path/to/script.sh &')

or

subprocess.call('/path/to/script.sh &', shell=True)

The process will keep going even if the python script dies.

If you are always going to reboot, let the OS kill the parent and you not worry about it.

edited Jun 09 '13 at 07:46

answered Jun 09 '13 at 07:37

korylprince

2,969
1
18
27

By the way `subprocess` should be used instead of `os.system`. – kirelagin Jun 09 '13 at 07:42
I don't think it is necessary in this case, but I added it anyways. – korylprince Jun 09 '13 at 07:46
Is there a way that doesn't use `shell=True`? – avendael Jun 09 '13 at 07:54
1

Basically no. Not with subprocess. See http://stackoverflow.com/questions/12341701/how-to-send-a-subprocess-to-the-background-without-using-shell-true – korylprince Jun 09 '13 at 07:57
It seems that `os.execv` is the way to go in my case. Thanks a lot for your help. – avendael Jun 09 '13 at 08:04

score 0 · Answer 2 · edited May 23 '17 at 11:57

0

yes. You can start a child process that can continue to run after the process that started it exited. Here's how without using shell=True or os.system().

edited May 23 '17 at 11:57

Community

1
1

answered Jun 09 '13 at 08:10

jfs

399,953
195
994
1,670

Background process that will kill the current process

2 Answers2