How to Call jq from Python Using subprocess

Описание: Discover how to effectively call shell scripts that utilize `jq` within Python using the `subprocess` module, and troubleshoot common issues.
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This video is based on the question https://stackoverflow.com/q/63581946/ asked by the user 'testuser' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/4251301/ ) and on the answer https://stackoverflow.com/a/63582059/ provided by the user 'peak' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/997358/ ) at 'Stack Overflow' website. Thanks to these great users and Stackexchange community for their contributions.

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How to Call jq from Python Using subprocess

If you're a developer who often works with JSON data, you may be familiar with jq, a powerful command-line JSON processor. In this guide, we’ll explore how to seamlessly call jq from shell scripts within Python using the subprocess module. We'll also troubleshoot common errors that arise during this process, particularly the elusive "Broken pipe" error. Let's dive in!

The Problem

Imagine you have two shell scripts: nodes.sh and node_detail.sh. Both use jq to process Docker node information. The goal is to run these scripts from Python using the subprocess library. While you manage to get node_detail.sh working without issues, nodes.sh throws an error that says, "Error: writing output failed: Broken pipe." Why does this happen?

Here’s a quick look at the scripts in question:

Script 1: nodes.sh

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Script 2: node_detail.sh

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The Output

nodes.sh Output

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node_detail.sh Output

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Understanding the Error

When you try to run nodes.sh from Python, you encounter the "Broken pipe" error. This error occurs because jq is invoked in a way that doesn't handle the output stream correctly. Simply calling jq without any argument can lead to it trying to read input where none is available, breaking the data flow.

The Solution

To remedy the situation, you need to adjust how jq is called in your nodes.sh script. Specifically, instead of invoking jq without an argument, you should change it to use jq -s . as shown below:

Updated nodes.sh

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Running the Scripts in Python

Here's how you can execute the scripts using Python’s subprocess module for both scripts effectively:

Running node_detail.sh

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Running nodes.sh

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Conclusion

By utilizing the appropriate invocation of jq in your bash scripts, you can seamlessly integrate them into your Python applications without encountering the "Broken pipe" error. This technique not only enhances the performance but also maintains the reliability of your JSON data handling.

If you frequently interact with jq and Python, keeping these tips in mind will save you both time and headaches down the road. Happy coding!