WPF Check if python installed on system

Question

My wpf application calls a python script to generate output which is later displayed in the UI. To avoid crashing of the application if python is not installed on user's system, I need to perform a check. Currently I have achieved that using the following

ProcessStartInfo start = new ProcessStartInfo();
start.FileName = @"cmd.exe"; // Specify exe name.
start.Arguments = "python --version";
start.UseShellExecute = false;
start.RedirectStandardError = true;

using (Process process = Process.Start(start))
        {
            using (StreamReader reader = process.StandardError)
            {
                string result = reader.ReadToEnd();
                MessageBox.Show(result);
            }
        }

This does the job but causes a momentary appearance of the cmd black window which is highly undesired. Is there a workaround to achieve this or a fix to avoid the appearance of the window?

Possible dubplicate: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/5377423/hide-console-window-from-process-start-c-sharp — clcto, Mar 27 '14 at 16:52

Michael Gunter · Answer 1 · 2017-10-23T17:51:38.677

6

Alternatively, you could check the registry for the default value of the key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths\Python.exe

This is arguably more reliable than just trying to run python.exe, since the Python installer doesn't always update the PATH variable.

edited Oct 23 '17 at 17:51

answered Mar 27 '14 at 17:08

Michael Gunter

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how can it be checked? I have a lot but in vain – Mehdi Ben Hamida Oct 19 '17 at 15:32
Do you know how to read the registry programmatically? Google "C# read registry". – Michael Gunter Oct 23 '17 at 17:51
1

I have Python Installed and running on my machine but I don't have it's Entry in App paths. But I can see the Python's Entry under Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Python – Jayesh Baviskar Aug 26 '19 at 10:41

score 1 · Accepted Answer · answered Mar 27 '14 at 16:54

Try this:

ProcessStartInfo start = new ProcessStartInfo();
start.FileName = @"cmd.exe"; // Specify exe name.
start.Arguments = "python --version";
start.UseShellExecute = false;
start.RedirectStandardError = true;
start.CreateNoWindow = true;

using (Process process = Process.Start(start))
        {
            using (StreamReader reader = process.StandardError)
            {
                string result = reader.ReadToEnd();
                MessageBox.Show(result);
            }
        }

WPF Check if python installed on system

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