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Check Service Ping Status and Exit Code in Python
Ping a list of hosts, print OK/FAIL per host, and exit with a non-zero code when any host is unreachable.
import subprocess
import sys
SERVICES = [
"8.8.8.8",
"1.1.1.1",
"invalid-host",
]
def main():
failed = []
for host in SERVICES:
result = subprocess.run(
["ping", "-c", "1", "-W", "2", host],
stdout=subprocess.DEVNULL,
stderr=subprocess.DEVNULL,
…How to Decrypt a GPG File with a Passphrase in Python
Decrypt a GPG-encrypted file using a passphrase via the gpg CLI wrapped in a reusable Python function.
import subprocess
import tempfile
from pathlib import Path
def decrypt_gpg_file(input_file: str, passphrase: str) -> str:
"""Decrypt a GPG file using a passphrase and return the plaintext."""
result = subprocess.run(
["gpg", "--batch", "--yes", "--passphrase", passphrase, "--decrypt", input_file],
…How to Generate an Inventory CSV of Installed pip Packages in Python
This script uses subprocess and csv to list all installed pip packages and write their names and versions into a CSV inventory file.
import subprocess
import csv
def get_installed_packages():
"""Return a list of (name, version) tuples for installed pip packages."""
result = subprocess.run(
["pip", "list", "--format=freeze"],
capture_output=True,
text=True,
check=True
)
packages = []
for line in r…How to Kill Zombie Processes Matching a Name in Python
Scans running processes with ps, finds zombies whose command name matches a pattern, and attempts to kill them with SIGKILL.
import subprocess
import re
import signal
def find_zombies(name_pattern):
"""Find PIDs of zombie processes matching the given pattern."""
result = subprocess.run(["ps", "-eo", "pid,stat,comm"], capture_output=True, text=True)
zombies = []
for line in result.stdout.splitlines()[1:]: # Skip header
…How to Mock FFmpeg subprocess Calls in Python
Compress a video with ffmpeg while mocking subprocess.run to test the command construction without executing the actual encoder.
import subprocess
from unittest.mock import Mock, patch
def compress_video(input_path: str, output_path: str, crf: int = 23) -> None:
"""Compress a video using ffmpeg with a given CRF (quality) value."""
command = [
"ffmpeg",
"-i", input_path,
"-c:v", "libx264",
"-crf", str(cr…How to Mock subprocess Calls in Python with unittest.mock
A Python script that wraps Vagrant up/destroy commands using subprocess, with tests that mock the subprocess call to simulate outputs and errors.
import subprocess
from unittest.mock import patch, Mock
def run_vagrant(action: str) -> str:
result = subprocess.run(
["vagrant", action],
capture_output=True,
text=True,
check=False,
)
return result.stdout.strip()
def vagrant_wrapper(action: str) -> str:
if action n…How to stage and commit all changes with Git in Python
Run git add -A and git commit from Python using subprocess to automate staging and committing all file changes in one step.
import subprocess
from pathlib import Path
def stage_and_commit_all(commit_message: str) -> None:
"""Stage all changes and create a commit with the given message."""
repo_root = Path.cwd()
if not (repo_root / ".git").exists():
raise RuntimeError("Not inside a Git repository")
subprocess.run([…Run pytest and email summary in Python
Runs pytest via subprocess, extracts the test summary line, and sends it in an email (mocked for demonstration).
import smtplib
import subprocess
from email.mime.text import MIMEText
from email.mime.multipart import MIMEMultipart
def run_tests():
"""Run pytest and capture the summary output."""
result = subprocess.run(
["pytest", "-q"],
capture_output=True,
text=True
)
return result.stdo…Amend Last Commit Message in Python
This script uses subprocess to run `git commit --amend` and update the most recent commit's message in your repository.
import subprocess
import sys
def amend_last_commit_message(new_message: str) -> None:
"""Change the message of the most recent commit."""
result = subprocess.run(
["git", "commit", "--amend", "-m", new_message],
capture_output=True,
text=True,
check=False,
)
if result.…Fetch Pull Rebase Workflow Script in Python
A Python script that automates the git fetch, checkout, and pull with rebase workflow using subprocess.
import subprocess
import sys
def run_git_command(args: list[str]) -> str:
"""Run a git command and return its stdout, or raise on failure."""
result = subprocess.run(
["git", *args],
capture_output=True,
text=True,
check=False,
)
if result.returncode != 0:
prin…Get Git Status Info in Python
Run git commands from Python to gather branch name, number of changes, total commits, and clean status, returning them as a dict.
import subprocess
import json
from pathlib import Path
def get_git_status(repo_path="."):
"""Return basic git info about a repository as a dict."""
try:
branch = subprocess.check_output(
["git", "branch", "--show-current"],
cwd=repo_path,
stderr=subprocess.DEVNULL,…How to Build a Git Helper Class in Python
A beginner-friendly GitHelper class that wraps common git commands (status, log, branch) into reusable Python methods with structured output.
import subprocess
import json
from pathlib import Path
class GitHelper:
def __init__(self, repo_path="."):
self.repo = Path(repo_path)
def run(self, *args):
result = subprocess.run(
["git", *args],
cwd=self.repo,
capture_output=True,
text=True,…How to Create a Git Branch if it Doesn't Exist in Python
Utility script that checks if a Git branch exists locally and either creates it or checks it out, with error handling.
import subprocess
import sys
def ensure_branch(branch_name):
"""Create a Git branch if it doesn't exist, otherwise checkout it."""
try:
# Check if the branch exists locally
result = subprocess.run(
["git", "branch", "--list", branch_name],
capture_output=True,
…How to Create a Git Commit with Message Template in Python
Run a git commit from Python using a standardized message template built from a commit type and description.
import subprocess
import sys
def commit_with_template(commit_type: str, description: str) -> None:
message = f"{commit_type}: {description}"
try:
subprocess.run(["git", "commit", "-m", message], check=True)
print(f"Committed: {message}")
except subprocess.CalledProcessError as e:
…How to Get Git Status and Log in Python
A beginner-friendly helper that runs git status and git log from Python using subprocess, with safe handling for non-repo directories.
import subprocess
from pathlib import Path
def git_status(path: str = ".") -> str:
"""Return the current git status as a string."""
result = subprocess.run(
["git", "status", "--short"],
cwd=path,
capture_output=True,
text=True
)
return result.stdout.strip() or "No cha…How to List Changed Files in the Last Git Commit with Python
Runs `git diff --name-only HEAD~1 HEAD` via subprocess to list the names of files changed in the most recent commit.
import subprocess
def list_changed_files():
result = subprocess.run(
["git", "diff", "--name-only", "HEAD~1", "HEAD"],
capture_output=True,
text=True,
check=True
)
files = result.stdout.strip().splitlines()
return files
if __name__ == "__main__":
changed = list_cha…How to Mirror a Bare Git Repository Backup in Python
Run a git clone --bare subprocess to create a timestamped bare-repo backup folder with error handling.
import subprocess
import shlex
from pathlib import Path
from datetime import datetime
def mirror_bare_repo(source_url: str, backup_dir: str) -> str:
"""Mirror a bare git repository to a timestamped backup folder."""
backup_path = Path(backup_dir)
backup_path.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
timest…How to Mock Git Clean Dry Run in Python
Simulate the output of `git clean -n` in Python to preview which untracked files would be removed without actually deleting them.
import subprocess
import sys
def mock_git_clean_dry_run(untracked_files):
"""Simulate `git clean -n` for a given list of untracked files."""
if not untracked_files:
print("No untracked files to remove.")
return
print("Would remove:")
for file in untracked_files:
print(f" {fil…How to Mock git sparse-checkout Paths in Python
Simulates git sparse-checkout configuration by writing desired paths to the sparse-checkout file without running git commands.
import subprocess
from pathlib import Path
import tempfile
def configure_sparse_checkout(repo_dir: Path, paths: list[str]) -> list[str]:
"""Simulate sparse checkout configuration by returning the paths that would be set."""
sparse_checkout_file = repo_dir / ".git" / "info" / "sparse-checkout"
sparse_chec…How to Mock subprocess.run in Python Tests
Mock subprocess.run to test a Git submodule update command without executing it in your test suite.
import subprocess
from unittest.mock import Mock, patch
def update_submodules():
subprocess.run(["git", "submodule", "update", "--init", "--recursive"], check=True)
with patch("subprocess.run") as mock_run:
mock_run.return_value = Mock(returncode=0)
update_submodules()
mock_run.assert_called_once_wit…How to Parse git status --porcelain Output in Python
This code runs `git status --porcelain` and parses its output into a list of dictionaries with file paths and status descriptions.
import subprocess
def parse_git_status_porcelain():
try:
output = subprocess.check_output(
["git", "status", "--porcelain"],
text=True,
stderr=subprocess.DEVNULL
)
except (subprocess.CalledProcessError, FileNotFoundError):
return []
entries = …How to Push Git Tags to a Remote with Python
Push specified git tags (or all tags) to a remote repository using Python's subprocess module with error handling.
import subprocess
import sys
def push_tags_to_remote(remote: str = "origin", tags: list[str] | None = None) -> None:
"""
Push git tags to a remote repository.
If no tags are given, push all local tags.
"""
if tags:
subprocess.run(["git", "push", remote, *tags], check=True)
else:
…How to Run Git Commands from Python with subprocess
This helper runs `git status --short` and `git log --oneline` from Python, captures their output, and returns readable strings with error handling for non-repo directories.
import subprocess
def git_status():
"""Return a short, human-readable git status."""
try:
output = subprocess.run(
["git", "status", "--short"],
capture_output=True,
text=True,
check=True,
).stdout.strip()
return output if output else "W…How to Squash Commits Range into One in Python
A mock script that displays the last N git commits as a single squashed commit, showing original commit subjects.
import subprocess
import re
def squash_last_commits(count):
"""Mock squashing the last N commits into one by display."""
git_log = subprocess.run(
["git", "log", f"-{count}", "--pretty=format:%h %s"],
capture_output=True, text=True
)
if git_log.returncode != 0:
return "Git comm…Browse by section
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