Yes, there are many interfaces to popen, but that doesn't refute the grandparent, who claims that the Python stdlib is maintained and updated. See the top of ht

Yes, there are many interfaces to popen, but that doesn't refute the grandparent, who claims that the Python stdlib is maintained and updated. See the top of http://docs.python.org/library/subprocess.html http://docs.python.org/library/subprocess.html -- the bad solution was deprecated, and a good solution was created. This is movement towards goodness, which the OP laments the lack of in Ruby.