Question 1

How do I run a shell command with the subprocess crate?

Accepted Answer

Use `Exec::shell("your command")` instead of `Exec::cmd`. This explicitly invokes the OS shell, allowing shell features while maintaining control over injection risks, as shown in the README examples.

Question 2

subprocess crate vs std::process: which should I use?

Accepted Answer

Use `std::process` for simple, fire-and-forget commands without I/O. Choose `subprocess` for advanced needs like deadlock-free I/O, pipelines, or timeout support, as it extends `std::process` with these features but adds complexity.

Question 3

How to merge stdout and stderr in subprocess?

Accepted Answer

In the builder, use `.stderr(Redirection::Merge)` to redirect stderr to stdout, similar to the shell's `2>&1` operator. This makes capture easier and is demonstrated in the README with the `cargo check` example.

Question 4

Can subprocess handle large input data efficiently?

Accepted Answer

Yes, it supports `InputData::from_reader` to stream data from any `Read` trait implementer, like `std::io::repeat(0).take(1_000_000_000)`, allowing efficient handling without loading everything into memory, as shown in the examples.

Question 5

Is subprocess cross-platform and does it work on Windows?

Accepted Answer

Yes, it is tested on Linux, macOS, and Windows, with minimal dependencies (`libc` on Unix, `winapi` on Windows). The API is consistent across platforms, making it suitable for cross-development.

Question 6

How to terminate a subprocess after a timeout in Rust using subprocess?

Accepted Answer

Use `wait_timeout` to check if the process finishes within the timeout. If it times out, call `terminate()` on the `Job` handle to send a termination signal, then `wait()` to ensure it exits, as illustrated in the termination example.

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