Detect QEMU linux-user emulation in `subprocess._use_posix_spawn()`
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OS-unsupported
stdlib
type-bug
- Dominant language
- Python
- Stars
- 77.2k
- Forks
- 35.9k
- PR merge metrics
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Description
The qemu linux-user emulation does not support CLONE_VFORK and emulates it
with a true fork. That breaks posix_spawn because it cannot report errors
back to the parent process. The subprocess modules should detect that is
it being executed in qemu linux-user emulation and return False in
_use_posix_spawn. One way to do that is to look for "uarch *: qemu" in
/proc/cpuinfo.
Contributor guide
First steps
- Read the whole issue, then the project's contributing guide.
- Comment on the issue to say you are picking it up — it saves two people doing the same work.
- Fork the repository and make your change on a branch.
- Open a pull request that references the issue number.
Research direction
Start at subprocess._use_posix_spawn() and trace how it decides whether to use posix_spawn. Inspect /proc/cpuinfo for the stated "uarch *: qemu" marker, then verify that QEMU linux-user execution is excluded while other environments retain their existing behavior.
Written by the indexing model from the issue text.
Assessment
- Tech stack
- python
- Domain
- operating-systems
- Issue type
- Bug
- Difficulty
- 3/5
- Estimated time
- 1-2 days
- Activity status
- Stale
- Clarity
- Mostly clear
- Newbie friendliness
- 52/100