subprocess32
A backport of the subprocess module from Python 3 for use on 2.x.
Decision gist · record as of 2026-08-14
No, unless you are maintaining a legacy Python 2 codebase that cannot be migrated. The project is abandoned, the repository archived, and Python 2 itself is long past end-of-life. The C extension may not compile on modern build systems. If you control the codebase, upgrade to Python 3; if you cannot, use this only as a temporary measure while planning migration.AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying
Before you install
- Python 2 only (2.6, 2.7); requires POSIX platform; C extension compilation needed at install time.
- Medium install friction due to compiled C extension.
- Repository archived since 2020 and project abandoned; last release was 2019-05-20, over 2643 days ago.
License · maintenance · safety
PSF license (permissive) — Licensed under PSF license (permissive). No licensing restrictions on use or redistribution.
last release 2019-05-20 (2643 days) · last repo commit 2020-06-16 · 173 stars · archived
0 known vulnerabilities (OSV.dev, 2026-08-14) · 710,240 downloads/mo, #5,260 on PyPI
Alternatives
Verify before relying
import sys, os
if os.name == 'posix' and sys.version_info[0] < 3:
import subprocess32 as subprocess
else:
import subprocess
result = subprocess.run(['echo', 'hello'], timeout=5)- Whether the C extension compiles cleanly on modern build systems given the 2020 last commit date.
- Current status of the archived repository and whether security patches or critical fixes are still available.
What it is and what it does
subprocess32 is a backport of Python 3's subprocess module for Python 2, designed to bring reliability improvements and modern APIs to older Python environments on POSIX systems. It includes a C extension that handles the fork/exec code path safely in multithreaded applications, addressing concurrency bugs present in Python 2's standard subprocess. The package backports timeout support from Python 3.3 and the run() API from Python 3.5, while keeping other features frozen at Python 3.2 level.
This package is intended as a drop-in replacement for Python 2's subprocess module on POSIX platforms (Linux, macOS, BSD, Solaris). However, the project is now abandoned—the repository was archived in 2020 and the last release was in May 2019. Python 2 itself reached end-of-life years ago, making this package primarily useful only for maintaining legacy Python 2 codebases that cannot be migrated.
Use it for
- Fixing concurrency bugs in legacy Python 2.7 applications that spawn subprocesses from multithreaded code.
- Adding timeout support to subprocess calls in Python 2.6 or 2.7 without upgrading to Python 3.
- Providing a unified subprocess API across Python 2 and 3 for codebases that must support both versions.
- Replacing Python 2's built-in subprocess module on POSIX systems to gain thread-safe fork/exec handling.
Worth the install?
AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page. Verify before relying on it.
No, unless you are maintaining a legacy Python 2 codebase that cannot be migrated.
The project is abandoned, the repository archived, and Python 2 itself is long past end-of-life. The C extension may not compile on modern build systems. If you control the codebase, upgrade to Python 3; if you cannot, use this only as a temporary measure while planning migration.
Install
subprocess32 on PyPI
Before you install
Medium install friction due to compiled C extension. Repository archived since 2020 and project abandoned; last release was 2019-05-20, over 2643 days ago. Not maintained.
Python 2 only (2.6, 2.7); requires POSIX platform; C extension compilation needed at install time.
License in practice
Licensed under PSF license (permissive). No licensing restrictions on use or redistribution.
Quickstart
import sys, os
if os.name == 'posix' and sys.version_info[0] < 3:
import subprocess32 as subprocess
else:
import subprocess
result = subprocess.run(['echo', 'hello'], timeout=5)Verify before relying
- Whether the C extension compiles cleanly on modern build systems given the 2020 last commit date.
- Current status of the archived repository and whether security patches or critical fixes are still available.
Package facts
| License | PSF license permissive |
| Python support | Supports the current Python release >=2.6, !=3.0.*, !=3.1.*, !=3.2.*, <4 |
| Install friction | Medium. Platform-specific wheel |
| Runtime dependencies | None |
| Maintenance | Abandoned 2,643 days since the last release |
| Last repo commit | repository archived |
| First released | |
| Downloads | 710,240 / month, #5,260 on PyPI 30-day window, as of 2026-08-14 |
| Known vulnerabilities | None known OSV.dev, checked 2026-08-14 |
| Classifiers | Development Status :: 5 - Production/StableIntended Audience :: DevelopersLicense :: OSI Approved :: Python Software Foundation LicenseOperating System :: MacOSOperating System :: MacOS :: MacOS XOperating System :: POSIXOperating System :: POSIX :: BSDOperating System :: POSIX :: LinuxOperating System :: POSIX :: SunOS/SolarisProgramming Language :: Python :: 2 :: OnlyProgramming Language :: Python :: 2.6Programming Language :: Python :: 2.7Programming Language :: Python :: Implementation :: CPythonTopic :: Software Development :: Libraries |
Evidence: subprocess32-3.5.4-cp27-cp27m-macosx_10_6_intel.whl; subprocess32-3.5.4-cp27-cp27mu-manylinux2014_x86_64.whl
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See also multiprocessing · taskgroup · futures · EasyProcess · functools32 · pathlib · fissix · backports.tempfile · wrapt-timeout-decorator · selectors2