How to run one python file from another python file?

Question

To start off, I am a beginner in python so I am not even sure if my question makes sense or is even possible.

I have 2 python files app.py. and compare.py. compare.py takes in two arguments (File paths) to run. So for example, when I want to run it, I do python compare.py ./image1.jpg ./image2.jpg. Now the return I get is some text printed to the terminal such as Comparison Done, The distance is 0.544.

Now, I want to run this compare.py from inside app.py and get a string with whatever compare.py would usually output to the terminal. So for example:

result = function('compare.py ./image1.jpg ./image2.jpg') and result will have the required string. Is this possible?

Without knowing more about the structure of compare.py, it's hard to say - it's possible, if it's sensibly written, that you can simply import the function with the appropriate behaviour and call it yourself. — jonrsharpe
– jonrsharpe, Commented Oct 11, 2017 at 11:59
Everything is possible as long as you put your mind to it ;) You may have to return these strings from one of the python functions and import one .py file in the other to call that function . Yea, but hard to say without knowing the structure of these files. — Unni
– Unni, Commented Oct 11, 2017 at 12:02
Do you have control over the compare script? It might be nicer to import the compare script and call the compare functions directly. — Holloway
– Holloway, Commented Oct 11, 2017 at 13:56

Ajax1234 · Accepted Answer · 2017-10-11 12:11:14Z

2

You can use os.popen:

In app.py:

import os
output = os.popen('python compare.py ./image1.jpg ./image2.jpg').readlines()

answered Oct 11, 2017 at 12:11

Ajax1234

71.7k9 gold badges67 silver badges110 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

1 Comment

Ajax1234 Over a year ago

@AspiringMat glad to help!

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

How to run one python file from another python file?

1 Answer 1

1 Comment

Your Answer

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

1 Answer 1

1 Comment

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Related