Python os.system works inline but not as a variable

Question

This function sends a google hangouts message to the recipient in the EMAIL variable.

It works in the following case where the email in inline with no quotes.

import os
EMAIL='in06khattab@gmail.com'

os.system('sudo echo "jjj" | sendxmpp -v -t in06khattab@gmail.com') #send hangouts message

However, when I insert the variable in its place, it doesn't send. There are no error message and the debug appears to be sending correctly, but I think it is sending to 'in06khattab@gmail.com' rather than in06khattab@gmail.com. So it may be including the quotes,

os.system('sudo echo "jjj" | sendxmpp -v -t EMAIL') #send hangouts message

@PadraicCunningham Without a link to the module, I doubt the OP knows what you are talking about. — SethMMorton, Feb 03 '15 at 03:28

score 3 · Accepted Answer · answered Feb 03 '15 at 01:27

3

Python won't interpret variables in a string like that.

Use concatenation:

os.system('sudo echo "jjj" | sendxmpp -v -t ' + EMAIL)

Or string formatting:

os.system('sudo echo "jjj" | sendxmpp -v -t %s' % EMAIL)

answered Feb 03 '15 at 01:27

Alexander O'Mara

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score 2 · Answer 2 · edited May 23 '17 at 12:06

2

For forwards compatibility and readability, I would suggest using format to substitute in the EMAIL variable.

os.system('sudo echo "jjj" | sendxmpp -v -t {email}'.format(email=EMAIL))

See this thread for why this is preferable to % encoding

edited May 23 '17 at 12:06

Community

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answered Feb 03 '15 at 03:41

talwai

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Python os.system works inline but not as a variable

2 Answers2