Pipe Python script to ssh, but do other bash commands first

Question

A very convenient way to execute a Python script on a remote server is to pipe it to ssh:

cat script.py | ssh user@address.com python -

where the - seems to be optional.

How can I execute other bash commands before running the Python script in this way?

This does not work:

cat script.py | ssh user@address.com "cd ..; python -" # WRONG!

Interestingly, this sends a non-deterministically corrupted version of the Python script, which gives a syntax error in a different place every time you run it!

Tip: if you're using this method, use `python -u` for unbuffered output so stdout shows up immediately after printing. — 1'', Jan 03 '15 at 05:36

Yatharth Agarwal · Accepted Answer · 2015-01-02T19:18:50.363

3

You can create a sub-shell:

cat script.py | ssh user@address.com "(cd ..; python -)"

Or a temporary file:

cat script.py | ssh user@address.com "tee >/tmp/tmp.py; cd ..; python /tmp/tmp.py; rm /tmp/tmp.py"

edited Jan 02 '15 at 19:18

answered Jan 02 '15 at 19:13

Yatharth Agarwal

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Thanks, wasn't sure how to capture stdin. – 1'' Jan 02 '15 at 19:16

Pipe Python script to ssh, but do other bash commands first

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