devscripts/make_lazy_extractors.py

@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ def get_all_ies():
     if os.path.exists(PLUGINS_DIRNAME):
         os.rename(PLUGINS_DIRNAME, BLOCKED_DIRNAME)
     try:
-        from yt_dlp.extractor.extractors import _ALL_CLASSES
+        from yt_dlp.extractor import _ALL_CLASSES
     finally:
         if os.path.exists(BLOCKED_DIRNAME):
             os.rename(BLOCKED_DIRNAME, PLUGINS_DIRNAME)

yt_dlp/YoutubeDL.py

@@ -38,6 +38,8 @@ from .compat import (
 from .cookies import load_cookies
 from .downloader import FFmpegFD, get_suitable_downloader, shorten_protocol_name
 from .downloader.rtmp import rtmpdump_version
+from .extractor import _LAZY_LOADER
+from .extractor import _PLUGIN_CLASSES as plugin_extractors
 from .extractor import gen_extractor_classes, get_info_extractor
 from .extractor.openload import PhantomJSwrapper
 from .minicurses import format_text
@@ -3657,10 +3659,6 @@ class YoutubeDL:
         if not self.params.get('verbose'):
             return
 
-        # These imports can be slow. So import them only as needed
-        from .extractor.extractors import _LAZY_LOADER
-        from .extractor.extractors import _PLUGIN_CLASSES as plugin_extractors
-
         def get_encoding(stream):
             ret = str(getattr(stream, 'encoding', 'missing (%s)' % type(stream).__name__))
             if not supports_terminal_sequences(stream):
@@ -3705,12 +3703,14 @@ class YoutubeDL:
 
         if source == 'source':
             try:
-                stdout, _, _ = Popen.run(
+                sp = Popen(
                     ['git', 'rev-parse', '--short', 'HEAD'],
-                    text=True, cwd=os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(__file__)),
-                    stdout=subprocess.PIPE, stderr=subprocess.PIPE)
-                if re.fullmatch('[0-9a-f]+', stdout.strip()):
-                    write_debug(f'Git HEAD: {stdout.strip()}')
+                    stdout=subprocess.PIPE, stderr=subprocess.PIPE,
+                    cwd=os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(__file__)))
+                out, err = sp.communicate_or_kill()
+                out = out.decode().strip()
+                if re.match('[0-9a-f]+', out):
+                    write_debug('Git HEAD: %s' % out)
             except Exception:
                 with contextlib.suppress(Exception):
                     sys.exc_clear()

yt_dlp/__init__.py

@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ import sys
 from .compat import compat_getpass, compat_shlex_quote
 from .cookies import SUPPORTED_BROWSERS, SUPPORTED_KEYRINGS
 from .downloader import FileDownloader
-from .extractor import list_extractor_classes
+from .extractor import GenericIE, list_extractor_classes
 from .extractor.adobepass import MSO_INFO
 from .extractor.common import InfoExtractor
 from .options import parseOpts
@@ -79,10 +79,6 @@ def get_urls(urls, batchfile, verbose):
 
 
 def print_extractor_information(opts, urls):
-    # Importing GenericIE is currently slow since it imports other extractors
-    # TODO: Move this back to module level after generalization of embed detection
-    from .extractor.generic import GenericIE
-
     out = ''
     if opts.list_extractors:
         urls = dict.fromkeys(urls, False)

yt_dlp/compat/compat_utils.py

@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ def _is_package(module):
 
 def passthrough_module(parent, child, *, callback=lambda _: None):
     parent_module = importlib.import_module(parent)
-    child_module = None  # Import child module only as needed
+    child_module = importlib.import_module(child, parent)
 
     class PassthroughModule(types.ModuleType):
         def __getattr__(self, attr):
@@ -41,9 +41,6 @@ def passthrough_module(parent, child, *, callback=lambda _: None):
                 with contextlib.suppress(ImportError):
                     return importlib.import_module(f'.{attr}', parent)
 
-            nonlocal child_module
-            child_module = child_module or importlib.import_module(child, parent)
-
             ret = _NO_ATTRIBUTE
             with contextlib.suppress(AttributeError):
                 ret = getattr(child_module, attr)

yt_dlp/cookies.py

@@ -709,19 +709,21 @@ def _get_kwallet_network_wallet(logger):
     """
     default_wallet = 'kdewallet'
     try:
-        stdout, _, returncode = Popen.run([
+        proc = Popen([
             'dbus-send', '--session', '--print-reply=literal',
             '--dest=org.kde.kwalletd5',
             '/modules/kwalletd5',
             'org.kde.KWallet.networkWallet'
-        ], text=True, stdout=subprocess.PIPE, stderr=subprocess.DEVNULL)
+        ], stdout=subprocess.PIPE, stderr=subprocess.DEVNULL)
 
-        if returncode:
+        stdout, stderr = proc.communicate_or_kill()
+        if proc.returncode != 0:
             logger.warning('failed to read NetworkWallet')
             return default_wallet
         else:
-            logger.debug(f'NetworkWallet = "{stdout.strip()}"')
-            return stdout.strip()
+            network_wallet = stdout.decode().strip()
+            logger.debug(f'NetworkWallet = "{network_wallet}"')
+            return network_wallet
     except Exception as e:
         logger.warning(f'exception while obtaining NetworkWallet: {e}')
         return default_wallet
@@ -739,16 +741,17 @@ def _get_kwallet_password(browser_keyring_name, logger):
     network_wallet = _get_kwallet_network_wallet(logger)
 
     try:
-        stdout, _, returncode = Popen.run([
+        proc = Popen([
             'kwallet-query',
             '--read-password', f'{browser_keyring_name} Safe Storage',
             '--folder', f'{browser_keyring_name} Keys',
             network_wallet
         ], stdout=subprocess.PIPE, stderr=subprocess.DEVNULL)
 
-        if returncode:
-            logger.error(f'kwallet-query failed with return code {returncode}. '
-                         'Please consult the kwallet-query man page for details')
+        stdout, stderr = proc.communicate_or_kill()
+        if proc.returncode != 0:
+            logger.error(f'kwallet-query failed with return code {proc.returncode}. Please consult '
+                         'the kwallet-query man page for details')
             return b''
         else:
             if stdout.lower().startswith(b'failed to read'):
@@ -763,7 +766,9 @@ def _get_kwallet_password(browser_keyring_name, logger):
                 return b''
             else:
                 logger.debug('password found')
-                return stdout.rstrip(b'\n')
+                if stdout[-1:] == b'\n':
+                    stdout = stdout[:-1]
+                return stdout
     except Exception as e:
         logger.warning(f'exception running kwallet-query: {error_to_str(e)}')
         return b''
@@ -810,13 +815,17 @@ def _get_linux_keyring_password(browser_keyring_name, keyring, logger):
 def _get_mac_keyring_password(browser_keyring_name, logger):
     logger.debug('using find-generic-password to obtain password from OSX keychain')
     try:
-        stdout, _, _ = Popen.run(
+        proc = Popen(
             ['security', 'find-generic-password',
              '-w',  # write password to stdout
              '-a', browser_keyring_name,  # match 'account'
              '-s', f'{browser_keyring_name} Safe Storage'],  # match 'service'
             stdout=subprocess.PIPE, stderr=subprocess.DEVNULL)
-        return stdout.rstrip(b'\n')
+
+        stdout, stderr = proc.communicate_or_kill()
+        if stdout[-1:] == b'\n':
+            stdout = stdout[:-1]
+        return stdout
     except Exception as e:
         logger.warning(f'exception running find-generic-password: {error_to_str(e)}')
         return None

yt_dlp/downloader/external.py

@@ -34,7 +34,6 @@ class Features(enum.Enum):
 class ExternalFD(FragmentFD):
     SUPPORTED_PROTOCOLS = ('http', 'https', 'ftp', 'ftps')
     SUPPORTED_FEATURES = ()
-    _CAPTURE_STDERR = True
 
     def real_download(self, filename, info_dict):
         self.report_destination(filename)
@@ -129,25 +128,24 @@ class ExternalFD(FragmentFD):
         self._debug_cmd(cmd)
 
         if 'fragments' not in info_dict:
-            _, stderr, returncode = Popen.run(
-                cmd, text=True, stderr=subprocess.PIPE if self._CAPTURE_STDERR else None)
-            if returncode and stderr:
-                self.to_stderr(stderr)
-            return returncode
+            p = Popen(cmd, stderr=subprocess.PIPE)
+            _, stderr = p.communicate_or_kill()
+            if p.returncode != 0:
+                self.to_stderr(stderr.decode('utf-8', 'replace'))
+            return p.returncode
 
         fragment_retries = self.params.get('fragment_retries', 0)
         skip_unavailable_fragments = self.params.get('skip_unavailable_fragments', True)
 
         count = 0
         while count <= fragment_retries:
-            _, stderr, returncode = Popen.run(cmd, text=True, stderr=subprocess.PIPE)
-            if not returncode:
+            p = Popen(cmd, stderr=subprocess.PIPE)
+            _, stderr = p.communicate_or_kill()
+            if p.returncode == 0:
                 break
-
             # TODO: Decide whether to retry based on error code
             # https://aria2.github.io/manual/en/html/aria2c.html#exit-status
-            if stderr:
-                self.to_stderr(stderr)
+            self.to_stderr(stderr.decode('utf-8', 'replace'))
             count += 1
             if count <= fragment_retries:
                 self.to_screen(
@@ -182,7 +180,6 @@ class ExternalFD(FragmentFD):
 
 class CurlFD(ExternalFD):
     AVAILABLE_OPT = '-V'
-    _CAPTURE_STDERR = False  # curl writes the progress to stderr
 
     def _make_cmd(self, tmpfilename, info_dict):
         cmd = [self.exe, '--location', '-o', tmpfilename, '--compressed']
@@ -207,6 +204,16 @@ class CurlFD(ExternalFD):
         cmd += ['--', info_dict['url']]
         return cmd
 
+    def _call_downloader(self, tmpfilename, info_dict):
+        cmd = [encodeArgument(a) for a in self._make_cmd(tmpfilename, info_dict)]
+
+        self._debug_cmd(cmd)
+
+        # curl writes the progress to stderr so don't capture it.
+        p = Popen(cmd)
+        p.communicate_or_kill()
+        return p.returncode
+
 
 class AxelFD(ExternalFD):
     AVAILABLE_OPT = '-V'
@@ -493,23 +500,24 @@ class FFmpegFD(ExternalFD):
         args.append(encodeFilename(ffpp._ffmpeg_filename_argument(tmpfilename), True))
         self._debug_cmd(args)
 
-        with Popen(args, stdin=subprocess.PIPE, env=env) as proc:
-            if url in ('-', 'pipe:'):
-                self.on_process_started(proc, proc.stdin)
-            try:
-                retval = proc.wait()
-            except BaseException as e:
-                # subprocces.run would send the SIGKILL signal to ffmpeg and the
-                # mp4 file couldn't be played, but if we ask ffmpeg to quit it
-                # produces a file that is playable (this is mostly useful for live
-                # streams). Note that Windows is not affected and produces playable
-                # files (see https://github.com/ytdl-org/youtube-dl/issues/8300).
-                if isinstance(e, KeyboardInterrupt) and sys.platform != 'win32' and url not in ('-', 'pipe:'):
-                    proc.communicate_or_kill(b'q')
-                else:
-                    proc.kill(timeout=None)
-                raise
-            return retval
+        proc = Popen(args, stdin=subprocess.PIPE, env=env)
+        if url in ('-', 'pipe:'):
+            self.on_process_started(proc, proc.stdin)
+        try:
+            retval = proc.wait()
+        except BaseException as e:
+            # subprocces.run would send the SIGKILL signal to ffmpeg and the
+            # mp4 file couldn't be played, but if we ask ffmpeg to quit it
+            # produces a file that is playable (this is mostly useful for live
+            # streams). Note that Windows is not affected and produces playable
+            # files (see https://github.com/ytdl-org/youtube-dl/issues/8300).
+            if isinstance(e, KeyboardInterrupt) and sys.platform != 'win32' and url not in ('-', 'pipe:'):
+                proc.communicate_or_kill(b'q')
+            else:
+                proc.kill()
+                proc.wait()
+            raise
+        return retval
 
 
 class AVconvFD(FFmpegFD):

yt_dlp/downloader/rtmp.py

@@ -92,7 +92,8 @@ class RtmpFD(FileDownloader):
                     self.to_screen('')
                 return proc.wait()
             except BaseException:  # Including KeyboardInterrupt
-                proc.kill(timeout=None)
+                proc.kill()
+                proc.wait()
                 raise
 
         url = info_dict['url']

yt_dlp/extractor/__init__.py

@@ -1,15 +1,32 @@
-from ..compat.compat_utils import passthrough_module
+import contextlib
+import os
 
-passthrough_module(__name__, '.extractors')
-del passthrough_module
+from ..utils import load_plugins
+
+_LAZY_LOADER = False
+if not os.environ.get('YTDLP_NO_LAZY_EXTRACTORS'):
+    with contextlib.suppress(ImportError):
+        from .lazy_extractors import *  # noqa: F403
+        from .lazy_extractors import _ALL_CLASSES
+        _LAZY_LOADER = True
+
+if not _LAZY_LOADER:
+    from .extractors import *  # noqa: F403
+    _ALL_CLASSES = [  # noqa: F811
+        klass
+        for name, klass in globals().items()
+        if name.endswith('IE') and name != 'GenericIE'
+    ]
+    _ALL_CLASSES.append(GenericIE)  # noqa: F405
+
+_PLUGIN_CLASSES = load_plugins('extractor', 'IE', globals())
+_ALL_CLASSES = list(_PLUGIN_CLASSES.values()) + _ALL_CLASSES
 
 
 def gen_extractor_classes():
     """ Return a list of supported extractors.
     The order does matter; the first extractor matched is the one handling the URL.
     """
-    from .extractors import _ALL_CLASSES
-
     return _ALL_CLASSES
 
 
@@ -22,12 +39,10 @@ def gen_extractors():
 
 def list_extractor_classes(age_limit=None):
     """Return a list of extractors that are suitable for the given age, sorted by extractor name"""
-    from .generic import GenericIE
-
     yield from sorted(filter(
-        lambda ie: ie.is_suitable(age_limit) and ie != GenericIE,
+        lambda ie: ie.is_suitable(age_limit) and ie != GenericIE,  # noqa: F405
         gen_extractor_classes()), key=lambda ie: ie.IE_NAME.lower())
-    yield GenericIE
+    yield GenericIE  # noqa: F405
 
 
 def list_extractors(age_limit=None):
@@ -37,6 +52,4 @@ def list_extractors(age_limit=None):
 
 def get_info_extractor(ie_name):
     """Returns the info extractor class with the given ie_name"""
-    from . import extractors
-
-    return getattr(extractors, f'{ie_name}IE')
+    return globals()[ie_name + 'IE']

yt_dlp/extractor/openload.py

@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ from ..utils import (
     ExtractorError,
     Popen,
     check_executable,
+    encodeArgument,
     get_exe_version,
     is_outdated_version,
 )
@@ -212,14 +213,16 @@ class PhantomJSwrapper:
         else:
             self.extractor.to_screen(f'{video_id}: {note2}')
 
-        stdout, stderr, returncode = Popen.run(
+        p = Popen(
             [self.exe, '--ssl-protocol=any', self._TMP_FILES['script'].name],
-            text=True, stdout=subprocess.PIPE, stderr=subprocess.PIPE)
-        if returncode:
-            raise ExtractorError(f'Executing JS failed\n:{stderr}')
+            stdout=subprocess.PIPE, stderr=subprocess.PIPE)
+        out, err = p.communicate_or_kill()
+        if p.returncode != 0:
+            raise ExtractorError(
+                'Executing JS failed\n:' + encodeArgument(err))
         with open(self._TMP_FILES['html'].name, 'rb') as f:
             html = f.read().decode('utf-8')
 
         self._load_cookies()
 
-        return (html, stdout)
+        return (html, encodeArgument(out))

yt_dlp/postprocessor/embedthumbnail.py

@@ -157,12 +157,14 @@ class EmbedThumbnailPP(FFmpegPostProcessor):
 
                     self._report_run('atomicparsley', filename)
                     self.write_debug('AtomicParsley command line: %s' % shell_quote(cmd))
-                    stdout, stderr, returncode = Popen.run(cmd, text=True, stdout=subprocess.PIPE, stderr=subprocess.PIPE)
-                    if returncode:
-                        self.report_warning(f'Unable to embed thumbnails using AtomicParsley; {stderr.strip()}')
+                    p = Popen(cmd, stdout=subprocess.PIPE, stderr=subprocess.PIPE)
+                    stdout, stderr = p.communicate_or_kill()
+                    if p.returncode != 0:
+                        msg = stderr.decode('utf-8', 'replace').strip()
+                        self.report_warning(f'Unable to embed thumbnails using AtomicParsley; {msg}')
                     # for formats that don't support thumbnails (like 3gp) AtomicParsley
                     # won't create to the temporary file
-                    if 'No changes' in stdout:
+                    if b'No changes' in stdout:
                         self.report_warning('The file format doesn\'t support embedding a thumbnail')
                         success = False
 

yt_dlp/postprocessor/ffmpeg.py

@@ -239,12 +239,14 @@ class FFmpegPostProcessor(PostProcessor):
                     encodeArgument('-i')]
             cmd.append(encodeFilename(self._ffmpeg_filename_argument(path), True))
             self.write_debug(f'{self.basename} command line: {shell_quote(cmd)}')
-            stdout, stderr, returncode = Popen.run(cmd, text=True, stdin=subprocess.PIPE, stdout=subprocess.PIPE, stderr=subprocess.PIPE)
-            if returncode != (0 if self.probe_available else 1):
+            handle = Popen(cmd, stdin=subprocess.PIPE, stdout=subprocess.PIPE, stderr=subprocess.PIPE)
+            stdout_data, stderr_data = handle.communicate_or_kill()
+            expected_ret = 0 if self.probe_available else 1
+            if handle.wait() != expected_ret:
                 return None
         except OSError:
             return None
-        output = stdout if self.probe_available else stderr
+        output = (stdout_data if self.probe_available else stderr_data).decode('ascii', 'ignore')
         if self.probe_available:
             audio_codec = None
             for line in output.split('\n'):
@@ -278,10 +280,11 @@ class FFmpegPostProcessor(PostProcessor):
         ]
 
         cmd += opts
-        cmd.append(self._ffmpeg_filename_argument(path))
-        self.write_debug(f'ffprobe command line: {shell_quote(cmd)}')
-        stdout, _, _ = Popen.run(cmd, text=True, stdout=subprocess.PIPE, stderr=subprocess.PIPE, stdin=subprocess.PIPE)
-        return json.loads(stdout)
+        cmd.append(encodeFilename(self._ffmpeg_filename_argument(path), True))
+        self.write_debug('ffprobe command line: %s' % shell_quote(cmd))
+        p = Popen(cmd, stdout=subprocess.PIPE, stderr=subprocess.PIPE, stdin=subprocess.PIPE)
+        stdout, stderr = p.communicate()
+        return json.loads(stdout.decode('utf-8', 'replace'))
 
     def get_stream_number(self, path, keys, value):
         streams = self.get_metadata_object(path)['streams']
@@ -343,13 +346,16 @@ class FFmpegPostProcessor(PostProcessor):
                 for i, (path, opts) in enumerate(path_opts) if path)
 
         self.write_debug('ffmpeg command line: %s' % shell_quote(cmd))
-        stdout, stderr, returncode = Popen.run(cmd, text=True, stdout=subprocess.PIPE, stderr=subprocess.PIPE, stdin=subprocess.PIPE)
-        if returncode not in variadic(expected_retcodes):
-            raise FFmpegPostProcessorError(stderr.strip().splitlines()[-1])
+        p = Popen(cmd, stdout=subprocess.PIPE, stderr=subprocess.PIPE, stdin=subprocess.PIPE)
+        stdout, stderr = p.communicate_or_kill()
+        if p.returncode not in variadic(expected_retcodes):
+            stderr = stderr.decode('utf-8', 'replace').strip()
+            self.write_debug(stderr)
+            raise FFmpegPostProcessorError(stderr.split('\n')[-1])
         for out_path, _ in output_path_opts:
             if out_path:
                 self.try_utime(out_path, oldest_mtime, oldest_mtime)
-        return stderr
+        return stderr.decode('utf-8', 'replace')
 
     def run_ffmpeg(self, path, out_path, opts, **kwargs):
         return self.run_ffmpeg_multiple_files([path], out_path, opts, **kwargs)

yt_dlp/postprocessor/sponskrub.py

@@ -84,15 +84,17 @@ class SponSkrubPP(PostProcessor):
         cmd = [encodeArgument(i) for i in cmd]
 
         self.write_debug('sponskrub command line: %s' % shell_quote(cmd))
-        stdout, _, returncode = Popen.run(cmd, text=True, stdout=None if self.get_param('verbose') else subprocess.PIPE)
+        pipe = None if self.get_param('verbose') else subprocess.PIPE
+        p = Popen(cmd, stdout=pipe)
+        stdout = p.communicate_or_kill()[0]
 
-        if not returncode:
+        if p.returncode == 0:
             os.replace(temp_filename, filename)
             self.to_screen('Sponsor sections have been %s' % ('removed' if self.cutout else 'marked'))
-        elif returncode == 3:
+        elif p.returncode == 3:
             self.to_screen('No segments in the SponsorBlock database')
         else:
-            raise PostProcessingError(
-                stdout.strip().splitlines()[0 if stdout.strip().lower().startswith('unrecognised') else -1]
-                or f'sponskrub failed with error code {returncode}')
+            msg = stdout.decode('utf-8', 'replace').strip() if stdout else ''
+            msg = msg.split('\n')[0 if msg.lower().startswith('unrecognised') else -1]
+            raise PostProcessingError(msg if msg else 'sponskrub failed with error code %s' % p.returncode)
         return [], information

yt_dlp/utils.py

@@ -841,31 +841,17 @@ class Popen(subprocess.Popen):
     else:
         _startupinfo = None
 
-    def __init__(self, *args, text=False, **kwargs):
-        if text is True:
-            kwargs['universal_newlines'] = True  # For 3.6 compatibility
-            kwargs.setdefault('encoding', 'utf-8')
-            kwargs.setdefault('errors', 'replace')
+    def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
         super().__init__(*args, **kwargs, startupinfo=self._startupinfo)
 
     def communicate_or_kill(self, *args, **kwargs):
         try:
             return self.communicate(*args, **kwargs)
         except BaseException:  # Including KeyboardInterrupt
-            self.kill(timeout=None)
+            self.kill()
+            self.wait()
             raise
 
-    def kill(self, *, timeout=0):
-        super().kill()
-        if timeout != 0:
-            self.wait(timeout=timeout)
-
-    @classmethod
-    def run(cls, *args, **kwargs):
-        with cls(*args, **kwargs) as proc:
-            stdout, stderr = proc.communicate_or_kill()
-            return stdout or '', stderr or '', proc.returncode
-
 
 def get_subprocess_encoding():
     if sys.platform == 'win32' and sys.getwindowsversion()[0] >= 5:
@@ -2570,7 +2556,7 @@ def check_executable(exe, args=[]):
     """ Checks if the given binary is installed somewhere in PATH, and returns its name.
     args can be a list of arguments for a short output (like -version) """
     try:
-        Popen.run([exe] + args, stdout=subprocess.PIPE, stderr=subprocess.PIPE)
+        Popen([exe] + args, stdout=subprocess.PIPE, stderr=subprocess.PIPE).communicate_or_kill()
     except OSError:
         return False
     return exe
@@ -2583,11 +2569,14 @@ def _get_exe_version_output(exe, args, *, to_screen=None):
         # STDIN should be redirected too. On UNIX-like systems, ffmpeg triggers
         # SIGTTOU if yt-dlp is run in the background.
         # See https://github.com/ytdl-org/youtube-dl/issues/955#issuecomment-209789656
-        stdout, _, _ = Popen.run([encodeArgument(exe)] + args, text=True,
-                                 stdin=subprocess.PIPE, stdout=subprocess.PIPE, stderr=subprocess.STDOUT)
+        out, _ = Popen(
+            [encodeArgument(exe)] + args, stdin=subprocess.PIPE,
+            stdout=subprocess.PIPE, stderr=subprocess.STDOUT).communicate_or_kill()
     except OSError:
         return False
-    return stdout
+    if isinstance(out, bytes):  # Python 2.x
+        out = out.decode('ascii', 'ignore')
+    return out
 
 
 def detect_exe_version(output, version_re=None, unrecognized='present'):
@@ -4807,13 +4796,14 @@ def write_xattr(path, key, value):
 
     value = value.decode()
     try:
-        _, stderr, returncode = Popen.run(
+        p = Popen(
             [exe, '-w', key, value, path] if exe == 'xattr' else [exe, '-n', key, '-v', value, path],
             stdout=subprocess.PIPE, stderr=subprocess.PIPE, stdin=subprocess.PIPE)
     except OSError as e:
         raise XAttrMetadataError(e.errno, e.strerror)
-    if returncode:
-        raise XAttrMetadataError(returncode, stderr)
+    stderr = p.communicate_or_kill()[1].decode('utf-8', 'replace')
+    if p.returncode:
+        raise XAttrMetadataError(p.returncode, stderr)
 
 
 def random_birthday(year_field, month_field, day_field):
@@ -5156,8 +5146,10 @@ def windows_enable_vt_mode():  # TODO: Do this the proper way https://bugs.pytho
     if get_windows_version() < (10, 0, 10586):
         return
     global WINDOWS_VT_MODE
+    startupinfo = subprocess.STARTUPINFO()
+    startupinfo.dwFlags |= subprocess.STARTF_USESHOWWINDOW
     try:
-        Popen.run('', shell=True)
+        subprocess.Popen('', shell=True, startupinfo=startupinfo).wait()
     except Exception:
         return