在python脚本中运行linux子进程

Question

I need to show coloured diff of two text files on linux from my python script, for which I am using vimdiff. I am able to run vimdiff using subprocess but I cant get control back to python script. It stays in the vimdiff mode forever until I do Ctrl+Z. What i want to do is that open vimdiff and get back to python script after receiving some kind of input from the keyboard. I tried signal module too but couldnt solve the problem.

I am a beginner in python so far what I tried is here:

import subprocess
p = subprocess.Popen(["vimdiff","test1.txt", "test2.txt"])
try:
 p.wait()
except KeyboardInterrupt:
 p.kill()

Any help will be appreciated

Answer 1

As I known vim uses ncurses library. For run ncurses based application use module pexpect :

import pexpect
child = pexpect.spawn("vim")
child.interact()

Answer 2

vim is a full screen text mode program that does tricks with screen. Avoid piping its input/output. Better run

subprocess.call(["vimdiff", "test1.txt", "test2.txt"])

or simply

os.system("vimdiff test1.txt test2.txt")