python / python/cpython

`subprocess._USE_POSIX_SPAWN` necessary to make nested launching work for AppImage

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stdlib topic-subprocess type-bug
Dominant language
Python
Stars
77.2k
Forks
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PR merge metrics
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Description

The release notes for 3.13 ask this - Please report your reason and platform details in the issue tracker if you set this so that we can improve our API selection logic for everyone. - so here I am.

I maintain sc-controller and Python 3.13 breaks its AppImage releases, as reported here https://github.com/AppImage/AppImageKit/issues/1435 with some attempted troubleshooting.

I've had to set subprocess._USE_POSIX_SPAWN = False in https://github.com/C0rn3j/sc-controller/commit/cb03aa8af76694fe157b437f9630dfa5e7c203f1 to get around it.

Contributor guide

Open the contributing guide

First steps

  1. Read the whole issue, then the project's contributing guide.
  2. Comment on the issue to say you are picking it up — it saves two people doing the same work.
  3. Fork the repository and make your change on a branch.
  4. Open a pull request that references the issue number.

Research direction

Start with Python 3.13's subprocess._USE_POSIX_SPAWN behavior and compare it with the nested-launching failure described in the linked AppImageKit issue. Review the sc-controller workaround commit and platform details, then determine why POSIX spawn is selected and what API selection change would avoid requiring the private setting.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.

Assessment

Tech stack
python
Domain
operating-systems
Issue type
Bug
Difficulty
4/5
Estimated time
3-5 days
Activity status
Quiet
Clarity
Needs clarification
Newbie friendliness
35/100

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