subprocess check_output text cut off

[Axel_Erfurt]

Python 3.11.2 on LMDE6 (Debian 12)

Why is the text cut off at the end?

from subprocess import check_output
cmd = "apt search vlc"
founded_packages = check_output(cmd, shell = True, universal_newlines=True).splitlines()

for lines in founded_packages[-5:]:
    print(lines)

Output:
p   vlc-plugin-video-output:i386    - Multimediaplayer und -streamer (Plugins zu
p   vlc-plugin-video-splitter       - Multimediaplayer und -streamer (Plugins zu
p   vlc-plugin-video-splitter:i386  - Multimediaplayer und -streamer (Plugins zu
p   vlc-plugin-visualization        - Multimediaplayer und -streamer (Plugins zu
p   vlc-plugin-visualization:i386   - Multimediaplayer und -streamer (Plugins zu

Output in terminal:

Output:
p   vlc-plugin-video-output:i386                                  - Multimediaplayer und -streamer (Plugins zur Videoausgabe)               
p   vlc-plugin-video-splitter                                     - Multimediaplayer und -streamer (Plugins zur Video-Verteilung)           
p   vlc-plugin-video-splitter:i386                                - Multimediaplayer und -streamer (Plugins zur Video-Verteilung)           
p   vlc-plugin-visualization                                      - Multimediaplayer und -streamer (Plugins zur Visuallisierung)            
p   vlc-plugin-visualization:i386                                 - Multimediaplayer und -streamer (Plugins zur Visuallisierung)   

[Gribouillis]

For me apt search vlc returns a different output but aptitude search vlc prints an output resembling yours. By any chance, are you running Linux Mint with a Python wrapper for apt calling aptitude instead of apt as in this discussion ?

In that case, try to call aptitude search vlc directly to see if the lines are truncated in the terminal. I ran your script with aptitude instead of apt and it worked in Kubuntu 24.04.
You can also use /usr/bin/apt instead of apt to get the normal apt output if apt is shadowed by another script.

[Axel_Erfurt]

Thanks,
aptitude search vlc
This provides a better result in the script, without a cut end. Just like I need it.

/usr/bin/apt search vlc
Also works in the script without a cut end, but with a different kind of output.

[DeaD_EyE]

Just use python-apt which does not require calling apt.

#!/usr/bin/python3

try:
    import apt
except ImportError:
    print("Please use Python from the system in /usr/bin/python3")
    print(
        "If the module `apt` is still not found, then install the missing package with:"
    )
    print("apt install python3-apt")
    raise SystemExit(1)


cache = apt.Cache()


def find_packages(match):
    return (pkg for pkg in cache if match in pkg.name)


def find_installed_packages(match):
    return (pkg for pkg in find_packages(match) if pkg.is_installed)


if __name__ == "__main__":
    for pkg in find_installed_packages("linux"):
        print(pkg.name)

The Documentation: https://apt-team.pages.debian.net/python...ache.Cache

[Gribouillis]

Just use python-apt which does not require calling apt.

The problem I have with python-apt is that there is no user-friendly documentation. We sail in the fog.

[DeaD_EyE]

The problem I have with python-apt is that there is no user-friendly documentation. We sail in the fog.

ChatGPT told me how to do it and yes, the documentation is not good. Maybe ChatGPT could improve the Docs :-D