Python subprocess.STARTF_USESHOWWINDOW Examples

def command_version(command):
    """
    Uses subprocess to format a given string.
    """

    startupinfo = None

    if platform == "windows":
        # Prevent cmd.exe window from popping up
        startupinfo = subprocess.STARTUPINFO()
        startupinfo.dwFlags |= (
            subprocess.STARTF_USESTDHANDLES | subprocess.STARTF_USESHOWWINDOW
        )
        startupinfo.wShowWindow = subprocess.SW_HIDE

    std = subprocess.Popen(
        [command, "--version"],
        env=calculate_env(),
        stdin=subprocess.PIPE,
        stdout=subprocess.PIPE,
        stderr=subprocess.PIPE,
        startupinfo=startupinfo
    )
    out, err = std.communicate()
    return out.decode("utf-8").replace("\r", ""), err 

def execute_command(command, working_dir=None):
    startupinfo = None
    # hide console window on windows
    if os.name == 'nt':
        startupinfo = subprocess.STARTUPINFO()
        startupinfo.dwFlags |= subprocess.STARTF_USESHOWWINDOW

    output = None
    try:
        output = subprocess.check_output(
            command,
            cwd=working_dir,
            startupinfo=startupinfo
        )
    except (subprocess.CalledProcessError, AttributeError):
        # Git will return an error when the given directory
        # is not a repository, which means that we can ignore this error
        pass
    else:
        output = str(output, encoding="utf-8").strip()

    return output 

def _popen_kwargs(prevent_sigint=False):
    startupinfo = None
    preexec_fn = None
    creationflags = 0
    if sys.platform.startswith("win"):
        # Stops executable from flashing on Windows (see imageio/imageio-ffmpeg#22)
        startupinfo = subprocess.STARTUPINFO()
        startupinfo.dwFlags |= subprocess.STARTF_USESHOWWINDOW
    if prevent_sigint:
        # Prevent propagation of sigint (see imageio/imageio-ffmpeg#4)
        # https://stackoverflow.com/questions/5045771
        if sys.platform.startswith("win"):
            creationflags = 0x00000200
        else:
            preexec_fn = os.setpgrp  # the _pre_exec does not seem to work
    return {
        "startupinfo": startupinfo,
        "creationflags": creationflags,
        "preexec_fn": preexec_fn,
    } 

def __init__(self, url, dest, progress_bar=False):
        self.url = url
        self.dest = dest
        self.hash_type = None
        self.hash_value = None
        self.process = None
        self.secret = ''.join(format(ord(x), 'x') for x in os.urandom(10))
        self.gid = 'DEADC0D9BEEFFACE'

        self.status = None
        self.failed = False
        self.failure = None

        self.ariaStatus = {}
        self.gid = None
        if platform.system()=='Darwin':
            self.aria_stdout = None
            self.startupinfo = None
        else:
            self.aria_stdout = None
            self.startupinfo = subprocess.STARTUPINFO()
            self.startupinfo.dwFlags = subprocess.CREATE_NEW_CONSOLE | subprocess.STARTF_USESHOWWINDOW
            self.startupinfo.wShowWindow = subprocess.SW_HIDE 

def __init__(self, shell_cmd):
		if not shell_cmd:
			raise ValueError("shell_cmd is required")

		if shell_cmd and not isinstance(shell_cmd, str):
			raise ValueError("shell_cmd must be a string")

		self.killed = False

		# Hide the console window on Windows
		startupinfo = None
		if os.name == "nt":
			startupinfo = subprocess.STARTUPINFO()
			#startupinfo.dwFlags |= subprocess.STARTF_USESHOWWINDOW

	   
		print (shell_cmd)
		if sys.platform == "win32":
			# Use shell=True on Windows, so shell_cmd is passed through with the correct escaping
			self.proc = subprocess.Popen(shell_cmd, startupinfo=startupinfo, shell=True)
		elif shell_cmd and sys.platform == "darwin":
			# Use a login shell on OSX, otherwise the users expected env vars won't be setup
			self.proc = subprocess.Popen(["/bin/bash", "-l", "-c", shell_cmd], startupinfo=startupinfo, shell=False)

		self.proc.wait() 

def run(self):
        if self.type is "ffmpeg":
            self.cmds.insert(0, ffmpeg_path)
        else:
            self.cmds.insert(0, ffprobe_path)

        qgsu.showUserAndLogMessage("", "starting Splitter on thread:" + str(threading.current_thread().ident), onlyLog=True)
        qgsu.showUserAndLogMessage("", "with args:" + ' '.join(self.cmds), onlyLog=True)

        # Hide shell windows that pops up on windows.
        if windows:
            startupinfo = subprocess.STARTUPINFO()
            startupinfo.dwFlags |= subprocess.STARTF_USESHOWWINDOW
            startupinfo.wShowWindow = subprocess.SW_HIDE

        self.p = subprocess.Popen(self.cmds, startupinfo=startupinfo, stdin=subprocess.DEVNULL, stdout=subprocess.PIPE)
        # Dont us _spawn here as it will DeadLock, and the splitter won't work
        #self.p = _spawn(self.cmds)
        self.nbsr = NonBlockingStreamReader(self.p)
        self.nbsr._t.join()
        qgsu.showUserAndLogMessage("", "Splitter thread ended.", onlyLog=True) 

def run(cmd):
    if sys.platform == 'win32':
      startupinfo = subprocess.STARTUPINFO()
      startupinfo.dwFlags |= subprocess.STARTF_USESHOWWINDOW
    else:
      startupinfo = None
    p = subprocess.Popen(cmd, shell=False, stdout=subprocess.PIPE, stderr=subprocess.STDOUT, startupinfo=startupinfo)
    #logtext.insert(END, "Cmd>")
    #for s in cmd:
    #    logtext.insert(END, " " + s)
    #logtext.insert(END, "\r\n")
    stdout = ''
    while True:
        line = str(p.stdout.readline(), encoding='UTF-8')
        stdout += line
        #logtext.insert(END, line)
        #logtext.yview(END)
        curstat = p.poll()
        if ((line == '') and (curstat != None)):
            break
    return stdout 

def get_provider(vmrun_exe):
    """
    identifies the right hosttype for vmrun command (ws | fusion | player)
    """

    if sys.platform == 'darwin':
        return 'fusion'

    for provider in ['ws', 'player', 'fusion']:
        try:
            startupinfo = None
            if os.name == "nt":
                startupinfo = subprocess.STARTUPINFO()
                startupinfo.dwFlags |= subprocess.SW_HIDE | subprocess.STARTF_USESHOWWINDOW
            proc = subprocess.Popen([vmrun_exe, '-T', provider, 'list'], stdout=subprocess.PIPE, stderr=subprocess.PIPE, startupinfo=startupinfo)
        except OSError:
            pass

        stdoutdata, stderrdata = map(b2s, proc.communicate())
        if proc.returncode == 0:
            return provider 

def tar_cmd(*args, **kwargs):
    try:
        startupinfo = None
        if os.name == "nt":
            startupinfo = subprocess.STARTUPINFO()
            startupinfo.dwFlags |= subprocess.SW_HIDE | subprocess.STARTF_USESHOWWINDOW
        proc = subprocess.Popen(['tar', '--help'], stdout=subprocess.PIPE, stderr=subprocess.PIPE, startupinfo=startupinfo)
    except OSError:
        return None
    if proc.returncode:
        return None
    stdoutdata, stderrdata = map(b2s, proc.communicate())
    tar = ['tar']
    if kwargs.get('wildcards') and re.search(r'--wildcards\b', stdoutdata):
        tar.append('--wildcards')
    if kwargs.get('force_local') and re.search(r'--force-local\b', stdoutdata):
        tar.append('--force-local')
    if kwargs.get('fast_read') and sys.platform.startswith('darwin'):
        tar.append('--fast-read')
    tar.extend(args)
    return tar 

def run_cli(script_name, **parameters):
    """Run the CLI in a subprocess without showing windows"""
    startupinfo = subprocess.STARTUPINFO()
    startupinfo.dwFlags |= subprocess.STARTF_USESHOWWINDOW

    command = [get_python_exe(), '-u', '-m', 'cea.interfaces.cli.cli', script_name]
    for parameter_name, parameter_value in parameters.items():
        parameter_name = parameter_name.replace('_', '-')
        command.append('--' + parameter_name)
        command.append(str(parameter_value))
    print('Executing: ' + ' '.join(command))
    process = subprocess.Popen(command, startupinfo=startupinfo, stdout=subprocess.PIPE, stderr=subprocess.PIPE,
                               cwd=tempfile.gettempdir())
    while True:
        next_line = process.stdout.readline()
        if next_line == '' and process.poll() is not None:
            break
        print(next_line.rstrip())
    stdout, stderr = process.communicate()
    print(stdout)
    print(stderr)
    if process.returncode != 0:
        raise Exception('Tool did not run successfully') 

def subprocess_args(include_stdout=True):
    if hasattr(subprocess, 'STARTUPINFO'):
        si = subprocess.STARTUPINFO()
        si.dwFlags |= subprocess.STARTF_USESHOWWINDOW
        env = os.environ
    else:
        si = None
        env = None

    if include_stdout:
        ret = {'stdout': subprocess.PIPE}
    else:
        ret = {}

    ret.update({'stdin': subprocess.PIPE,
                'stderr': subprocess.PIPE,
                'startupinfo': si,
                'env': env })
    return ret 

def __init__(self, command: List[str], cwd: Optional[str]):
		# taken from Default/exec.py
		# Hide the console window on Windows
		startupinfo = None
		if os.name == "nt":
			startupinfo = subprocess.STARTUPINFO() #type: ignore
			startupinfo.dwFlags |= subprocess.STARTF_USESHOWWINDOW #type: ignore

		super().__init__(command,
			stdout=subprocess.PIPE,
			stderr=subprocess.PIPE,
			stdin=subprocess.PIPE,
			shell=False,
			bufsize=0,
			startupinfo=startupinfo,
			cwd = cwd)

		self.closed = False 

def _execute(self, args):
        # ugly method that should be refactored at some point
        path, args = [i.strip() for i in args.split('"') if i if not i.isspace()] if args.count('"') == 2 else [i for i in args.partition(' ') if i if not i.isspace()]
        args = [path] + args.split()
        if os.path.isfile(path):
            name = os.path.splitext(os.path.basename(path))[0]
            try:
                info = subprocess.STARTUPINFO()
                info.dwFlags = subprocess.STARTF_USESHOWWINDOW ,  subprocess.CREATE_NEW_ps_GROUP
                info.wShowWindow = subprocess.SW_HIDE
                self.child_procs[name] = subprocess.Popen(args, startupinfo=info)
                return "Running '{}' in a hidden process".format(path)
            except Exception as e:
                try:
                    self.child_procs[name] = subprocess.Popen(args, 0, None, None, subprocess.PIPE, subprocess.PIPE)
                    return "Running '{}' in a new process".format(name)
                except Exception as e:
                    util.log("{} error: {}".format(self._execute.__name__, str(e)))
        else:
            return "File '{}' not found".format(str(path)) 

def _popen_kwargs(prevent_sigint=False):
    startupinfo = None
    preexec_fn = None
    creationflags = 0
    if sys.platform.startswith("win"):
        # Stops executable from flashing on Windows (see #22)
        startupinfo = subprocess.STARTUPINFO()
        startupinfo.dwFlags |= subprocess.STARTF_USESHOWWINDOW
    if prevent_sigint:
        # Prevent propagation of sigint (see #4)
        # https://stackoverflow.com/questions/5045771
        if sys.platform.startswith("win"):
            creationflags = 0x00000200
        else:
            preexec_fn = os.setpgrp  # the _pre_exec does not seem to work
    return {
        "startupinfo": startupinfo,
        "creationflags": creationflags,
        "preexec_fn": preexec_fn,
    } 

def _execute(self, args):
        # ugly method that should be refactored at some point
        path, args = [i.strip() for i in args.split('"') if i if not i.isspace()] if args.count('"') == 2 else [i for i in args.partition(' ') if i if not i.isspace()]
        args = [path] + args.split()
        if os.path.isfile(path):
            name = os.path.splitext(os.path.basename(path))[0]
            try:
                info = subprocess.STARTUPINFO()
                info.dwFlags = subprocess.STARTF_USESHOWWINDOW ,  subprocess.CREATE_NEW_ps_GROUP
                info.wShowWindow = subprocess.SW_HIDE
                self.child_procs[name] = subprocess.Popen(args, startupinfo=info)
                return "Running '{}' in a hidden process".format(path)
            except Exception as e:
                try:
                    self.child_procs[name] = subprocess.Popen(args, 0, None, None, subprocess.PIPE, subprocess.PIPE)
                    return "Running '{}' in a new process".format(name)
                except Exception as e:
                    util.log("{} error: {}".format(self.execute.__name__, str(e)))
        else:
            return "File '{}' not found".format(str(path)) 

def subprocess_args(include_stdout=True):
    if hasattr(subprocess, 'STARTUPINFO'):
        si = subprocess.STARTUPINFO()
        si.dwFlags |= subprocess.STARTF_USESHOWWINDOW
        env = os.environ
    else:
        si = None
        env = None

    if include_stdout:
        ret = {'stdout:': subprocess.PIPE}
    else:
        ret = {}

    ret.update({'stdin': subprocess.PIPE,
                'stderr': subprocess.PIPE,
                'startupinfo': si,
                'env': env })
    return ret

#Function to get the Process ID 

def get_process(cmd):
    """Get a command process."""

    if sys.platform.startswith('win'):
        startupinfo = subprocess.STARTUPINFO()
        startupinfo.dwFlags |= subprocess.STARTF_USESHOWWINDOW
        process = subprocess.Popen(
            cmd,
            startupinfo=startupinfo,
            stdout=subprocess.PIPE,
            stderr=subprocess.STDOUT,
            stdin=subprocess.PIPE,
            shell=False
        )
    else:
        process = subprocess.Popen(
            cmd,
            stdout=subprocess.PIPE,
            stderr=subprocess.STDOUT,
            stdin=subprocess.PIPE,
            shell=False
        )
    return process 

def _runEngineProcess(self, command_list) -> Optional[subprocess.Popen]:
        """Start the (external) backend process."""

        kwargs = {} #type: Dict[str, Any]
        if sys.platform == "win32":
            su = subprocess.STARTUPINFO()
            su.dwFlags |= subprocess.STARTF_USESHOWWINDOW
            su.wShowWindow = subprocess.SW_HIDE
            kwargs["startupinfo"] = su
            kwargs["creationflags"] = 0x00004000  # BELOW_NORMAL_PRIORITY_CLASS
        try:
            # STDIN needs to be None because we provide no input, but communicate via a local socket instead. The NUL device sometimes doesn't exist on some computers.
            # STDOUT and STDERR need to be pipes because we'd like to log the output on those channels into the application log.
            return subprocess.Popen(command_list, stdin = None, stdout = subprocess.PIPE, stderr = subprocess.PIPE, **kwargs)
        except PermissionError:
            Logger.log("e", "Couldn't start back-end: No permission to execute process.")
        except FileNotFoundError:
            Logger.logException("e", "Unable to find backend executable: %s", command_list[0])
        except BlockingIOError:
            Logger.log("e", "Couldn't start back-end: Resource is temporarily unavailable")
        except OSError as e:
            Logger.log("e", "Couldn't start back-end: Operating system is blocking it (antivirus?): {err}".format(err = str(e)))
        return None 

def execute(self, args):
        """
        Run an executable program in a hidden process

        `Required`
        :param str path:    file path of the target program

        `Optional`
        :param str args:    arguments for the target program

        """
        path, args = [i.strip() for i in args.split('"') if i if not i.isspace()] if args.count('"') == 2 else [i for i in args.partition(' ') if i if not i.isspace()]
        args = [path] + args.split()
        if os.path.isfile(path):
            name = os.path.splitext(os.path.basename(path))[0]
            try:
                info = subprocess.STARTUPINFO()
                info.dwFlags = subprocess.STARTF_USESHOWWINDOW ,  subprocess.CREATE_NEW_ps_GROUP
                info.wShowWindow = subprocess.SW_HIDE
                self.execute.process_list[name] = subprocess.Popen(args, startupinfo=info)
                return "Running '{}' in a hidden process".format(path)
            except Exception as e:
                try:
                    self.execute.process_list[name] = subprocess.Popen(args, 0, None, None, subprocess.PIPE, subprocess.PIPE)
                    return "Running '{}' in a new process".format(name)
                except Exception as e:
                    log("{} error: {}".format(self.execute.__name__, str(e)))
        else:
            return "File '{}' not found".format(str(path)) 

def launch_plotter(root_path, service_array):
    # we need to pass on the possibly altered CHIA_ROOT
    os.environ["CHIA_ROOT"] = str(root_path)
    service_name = service_array[0]
    service_executable = executable_for_service(service_name)

    # Swap service name with name of executable
    service_array[0] = service_executable
    startupinfo = None
    if os.name == "nt":
        startupinfo = subprocess.STARTUPINFO()  # type: ignore
        startupinfo.dwFlags |= subprocess.STARTF_USESHOWWINDOW  # type: ignore

    plotter_path = plotter_log_path(root_path)

    if plotter_path.parent.exists():
        if plotter_path.exists():
            plotter_path.unlink()
    else:
        mkdir(plotter_path.parent)
    outfile = open(plotter_path.resolve(), "w")
    log.info(f"Service array: {service_array}")
    process = subprocess.Popen(
        service_array, shell=False, stdout=outfile, startupinfo=startupinfo
    )

    pid_path = pid_path_for_service(root_path, service_name)
    try:
        mkdir(pid_path.parent)
        with open(pid_path, "w") as f:
            f.write(f"{process.pid}\n")
    except Exception:
        pass
    return process, pid_path 

def execute(self, args):
        """
        Run an executable program in a hidden process

        `Required`
        :param str path:    file path of the target program

        `Optional`
        :param str args:    arguments for the target program

        """
        log(args)
        path, args = [i.strip() for i in args.split('"') if i if not i.isspace()] if args.count('"') == 2 else [i for i in args.partition(' ') if i if not i.isspace()]
        args = [path] + args.split()
        if os.path.isfile(path):
            name = os.path.splitext(os.path.basename(path))[0]
            try:
                # attempt to run hidden process
                info = subprocess.STARTUPINFO()
                info.dwFlags = subprocess.STARTF_USESHOWWINDOW ,  subprocess.CREATE_NEW_ps_GROUP
                info.wShowWindow = subprocess.SW_HIDE
                self.execute.process_list[name] = subprocess.Popen(args, startupinfo=info)
                return "Running '{}' in a hidden process".format(path)
            except Exception as e:
                # revert to normal process if hidden process fails
                try:
                    self.execute.process_list[name] = subprocess.Popen(args, 0, None, None, subprocess.PIPE, subprocess.PIPE)
                    return "Running '{}' in a new process".format(name)
                except Exception as e:
                    log("{} error: {}".format(self.execute.__name__, str(e)))
                    return "{} error: {}".format(self.execute.__name__, str(e))
        else:
            return "File '{}' not found".format(str(path)) 

def _create_process(self, cmd):
        """Create new subprocess.

        Args:
            cmd (list): Python list that contains the command to execute.

        """
        info = preexec = None

        # Keep a unicode copy of cmd for the log
        ucmd = cmd

        if os.name == 'nt':
            # Hide subprocess window
            info = subprocess.STARTUPINFO()
            info.dwFlags |= subprocess.STARTF_USESHOWWINDOW
        else:
            # Make subprocess the process group leader
            # in order to kill the whole process group with os.killpg
            preexec = os.setsid

        # Encode command for subprocess
        # Refer to http://stackoverflow.com/a/9951851/35070
        if sys.version_info < (3, 0):
            cmd = convert_item(cmd, to_unicode=False)

        try:
            self._proc = subprocess.Popen(cmd,
                                          stdout=subprocess.PIPE,
                                          stderr=subprocess.PIPE,
                                          preexec_fn=preexec,
                                          startupinfo=info)
        except (ValueError, OSError) as error:
            self._log('Failed to start process: {}'.format(ucmd))
            self._log(convert_item(str(error), to_unicode=True)) 

def run_popen_with_timeout(command, timeout):
    """
    Run a sub-program in subprocess.Popen, pass it the input_data,
    kill it if the specified timeout has passed.
    returns a tuple of resultcode, timeout, stdout, stderr
    """
    kill_check = threading.Event()

    def _kill_process_after_a_timeout(pid):
        os.kill(pid, signal.SIGTERM)
        kill_check.set()  # tell the main routine that we had to kill
        # use SIGKILL if hard to kill...
        return

    # Workarounds for pyinstaller
    # https://github.com/pyinstaller/pyinstaller/wiki/Recipe-subprocess
    startup_info = None
    if os.name == "nt":
        # disable command window when run from pyinstaller
        startup_info = subprocess.STARTUPINFO()
        # Less fancy version of bitwise-or-assignment (x |= y) shown in ref url.
        if startup_info.dwFlags == 1 or subprocess.STARTF_USESHOWWINDOW == 1:
            startup_info.dwFlags = 1
        else:
            startup_info.dwFlags = 0

    p = Popen(command, stdin=PIPE, stdout=PIPE, stderr=PIPE, startupinfo=startup_info)
    watchdog = threading.Timer(timeout, _kill_process_after_a_timeout, args=(p.pid,))
    watchdog.start()
    (stdout, stderr) = p.communicate()
    watchdog.cancel()  # if it's still waiting to run
    timeout = kill_check.isSet()
    kill_check.clear()
    return p.returncode, timeout, stdout, stderr 

def kill(self):
		if not self.killed:
			self.killed = True
			if sys.platform == "win32":
				# terminate would not kill process opened by the shell cmd.exe, it will only kill
				# cmd.exe leaving the child running
				startupinfo = subprocess.STARTUPINFO()
				startupinfo.dwFlags |= subprocess.STARTF_USESHOWWINDOW
				subprocess.Popen("taskkill /PID " + str(self.proc.pid), startupinfo=startupinfo)
			else:
				self.proc.terminate() 

def __init__(self, cmd, timeout=30, maxread=2000, searchwindowsize=None,
                 logfile=None, cwd=None,  env=None, encoding=None,
                 codec_errors='strict'):
        super(PopenSpawn, self).__init__(timeout=timeout, maxread=maxread,
                searchwindowsize=searchwindowsize, logfile=logfile,
                encoding=encoding, codec_errors=codec_errors)

        kwargs = dict(bufsize=0, stdin=subprocess.PIPE,
                      stderr=subprocess.STDOUT, stdout=subprocess.PIPE,
                      cwd=cwd, env=env)

        if sys.platform == 'win32':
            startupinfo = subprocess.STARTUPINFO()
            startupinfo.dwFlags |= subprocess.STARTF_USESHOWWINDOW
            kwargs['startupinfo'] = startupinfo
            kwargs['creationflags'] = subprocess.CREATE_NEW_PROCESS_GROUP

        if isinstance(cmd, string_types) and sys.platform != 'win32':
            cmd = shlex.split(cmd, posix=os.name == 'posix')

        self.proc = subprocess.Popen(cmd, **kwargs)
        self.pid = self.proc.pid
        self.closed = False
        self._buf = self.string_type()

        self._read_queue = Queue()
        self._read_thread = threading.Thread(target=self._read_incoming)
        self._read_thread.setDaemon(True)
        self._read_thread.start() 

def _invoke(self, cmdline):
        if sys.platform[:3] == 'win':
            closefds = False
            startupinfo = subprocess.STARTUPINFO()
            startupinfo.dwFlags |= subprocess.STARTF_USESHOWWINDOW
        else:
            closefds = True
            startupinfo = None

        if (os.environ.get('DISPLAY') or sys.platform[:3] == 'win' or
                                                    sys.platform == 'darwin'):
            inout = file(os.devnull, 'r+')
        else:
            # for TTY programs, we need stdin/out
            inout = None

        # if possible, put the child precess in separate process group,
        # so keyboard interrupts don't affect child precess as well as
        # Python
        setsid = getattr(os, 'setsid', None)
        if not setsid:
            setsid = getattr(os, 'setpgrp', None)

        pipe = subprocess.Popen(cmdline, stdin=inout, stdout=inout,
                                stderr=inout, close_fds=closefds,
                                preexec_fn=setsid, startupinfo=startupinfo)

        # It is assumed that this kind of tools (gnome-open, kfmclient,
        # exo-open, xdg-open and open for OSX) immediately exit after lauching
        # the specific application
        returncode = pipe.wait()
        if hasattr(self, 'fixreturncode'):
            returncode = self.fixreturncode(returncode)
        return not returncode 

def start_server(self):
        if self.android is None:
            if self.enabled and self.lang.voice is not None:
                cmd = ['espeak']
                cmd.extend(self.lang.voice)
                try:
                    # IS_WIN32 = 'win32' in str(sys.platform).lower() #maybe sys.platform is more secure
                    is_win = platform.system() == "Windows"
                    if is_win:
                        startupinfo = subprocess.STARTUPINFO()
                        startupinfo.dwFlags = subprocess.CREATE_NEW_CONSOLE | subprocess.STARTF_USESHOWWINDOW
                        startupinfo.wShowWindow = subprocess.SW_HIDE
                        kwargs = {}
                        kwargs['startupinfo'] = startupinfo
                        self.process = subprocess.Popen(cmd, shell=False, bufsize=0, stdin=subprocess.PIPE,
                                                        stdout=subprocess.PIPE, stderr=subprocess.PIPE,
                                                        startupinfo=startupinfo)
                    else:
                        if self.debug:
                            self.process = subprocess.Popen(cmd, shell=False, bufsize=0, stdin=subprocess.PIPE)
                        else:
                            self.process = subprocess.Popen(cmd, shell=False, bufsize=0, stdin=subprocess.PIPE,
                                                            stdout=subprocess.PIPE, stderr=subprocess.PIPE)
                    self.started = True
                except:
                    self.enabled = False
                    self.started = False
                    print("eduActiv8: You may like to install eSpeak to get some extra functionality, " +
                          "however this is not required to successfully use the game.")
            else:
                self.process = None 

def exec(cmd, input):
    if os.name == "nt":
        si = subprocess.STARTUPINFO()
        si.dwFlags |= subprocess.SW_HIDE | subprocess.STARTF_USESHOWWINDOW
        proc = subprocess.Popen(
            cmd,
            cwd=PACKAGE_PATH,
            stdin=subprocess.PIPE,
            stdout=subprocess.PIPE,
            stderr=subprocess.PIPE,
            startupinfo=si,
        )
    else:
        proc = subprocess.Popen(
            cmd,
            cwd=PACKAGE_PATH,
            stdin=subprocess.PIPE,
            stdout=subprocess.PIPE,
            stderr=subprocess.PIPE,
        )
    if type(input) == str:
        input = input.encode()
    outs, errs = proc.communicate(input=input)
    err = errs.decode().strip()
    if bool(err):
        debug("Exec error", err, True)
    return (err, outs.decode().strip()) 

def merge_videos():
    """
    Iterates the MergeSets in the videos_to_merge list and combines the files at the video path and the audio path to
    the output path.  Also sets the output files "date modified" attribute to the date modified specified in the
    MergeSet if the user settings dictate to do so.
    """
    if ffmpeg_valid:
        failed_count = 0
        for ms in videos_to_merge.values():
            try:
                output_path = get_output_path(ms.output_path)
                cmd = 'ffmpeg -i "%s" -i "%s" -c:v copy -c:a aac -strict experimental "%s"' % \
                      (ms.video_path, ms.audio_path, output_path)
                si = subprocess.STARTUPINFO()
                si.dwFlags |= subprocess.STARTF_USESHOWWINDOW
                handle = subprocess.run(cmd, capture_output=True, startupinfo=si)
                if Injector.get_settings_manager().set_file_modified_date:
                    SystemUtil.set_file_modify_time(output_path, ms.date_modified)
            except:
                failed_count += 1
                logger.error('Failed to merge video', extra={'video_path': ms.video_path, 'audio_path': ms.audio_path,
                                                             'output_path': ms.output_path}, exc_info=True)
        logger.info('Video merger complete', extra={'videos_successfully_merged': len(videos_to_merge) - failed_count,
                                                    'videos_unsuccessfully_merged': failed_count})
        clean_up()
    else:
        logger.warning('Ffmpeg is not installed: unable to merge video and audio files',
                       extra={'videos_to_merge': len(videos_to_merge)}) 

def launch_service(root_path, service_command):
    """
    Launch a child process.
    """
    # set up CHIA_ROOT
    # invoke correct script
    # save away PID

    # we need to pass on the possibly altered CHIA_ROOT
    os.environ["CHIA_ROOT"] = str(root_path)

    # Innsert proper e
    service_array = service_command.split()
    service_name = service_array[0]
    service_executable = executable_for_service(service_name)
    service_array[0] = service_executable
    startupinfo = None
    if os.name == "nt":
        startupinfo = subprocess.STARTUPINFO()  # type: ignore
        startupinfo.dwFlags |= subprocess.STARTF_USESHOWWINDOW  # type: ignore

    process = subprocess.Popen(service_array, shell=False, startupinfo=startupinfo)
    pid_path = pid_path_for_service(root_path, service_command)
    try:
        mkdir(pid_path.parent)
        with open(pid_path, "w") as f:
            f.write(f"{process.pid}\n")
    except Exception:
        pass
    return process, pid_path