I have this code for start and stopping xampp apache and mysql.

import subprocess
import os
import time
import argparse
import sys

# XAMPP installation path
xampp_path = 'D:\projects'  # Get path from environment variable or use default

# Seconds to wait for services to start/stop
wait_time = 2

# Function to start a service using batch files
def start_service(batch_file):
    command = os.path.join(xampp_path, batch_file)
    if os.path.isfile(command):
        print(f"Starting service with {batch_file}...")
        process = subprocess.Popen(command, shell=True, stdout=subprocess.PIPE, stderr=subprocess.PIPE, creationflags=subprocess.CREATE_NO_WINDOW)
        time.sleep(wait_time)  # Give it some time to start
        print(f"Service started successfully with {batch_file}.")
    else:
        print(f"Batch file {batch_file} does not exist.")

# Function to stop a service using batch files
def stop_service(batch_file):
    command = os.path.join(xampp_path, batch_file)
    if os.path.isfile(command):
        print(f"Stopping service with {batch_file}...")
        process = subprocess.Popen(command, shell=True, stdout=subprocess.PIPE, stderr=subprocess.PIPE, creationflags=subprocess.CREATE_NO_WINDOW)
        time.sleep(wait_time)  # Give it some time to stop
        print(f"Attempted to stop service with {batch_file}.")
    else:
        print(f"Batch file {batch_file} does not exist.")

# Function to forcefully kill a service by its process name
def kill_service(service_name):
    try:
        subprocess.run(f"taskkill /F /IM {service_name}", check=True, stdout=subprocess.PIPE, stderr=subprocess.PIPE, shell=True, creationflags=subprocess.CREATE_NO_WINDOW)
        print(f"Service {service_name} killed successfully.")
    except subprocess.CalledProcessError as e:
        print(f"Error killing {service_name}: {e.stderr.decode()}")

# Parse command line arguments
parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(description="Start or stop XAMPP services.")
parser.add_argument("--start", action="store_true", help="Start XAMPP services")
parser.add_argument("--stop", action="store_true", help="Stop XAMPP services")
args = parser.parse_args()

# Start or stop XAMPP services based on command line arguments
if args.start:
    # Start Apache and MySQL
    start_service("apache_start.bat")
    time.sleep(wait_time)  # Wait a few seconds before starting MySQL to ensure Apache starts properly
    start_service("mysql_start.bat")

elif args.stop:
    # Stop Apache and MySQL
    stop_service("apache_stop.bat")
    stop_service("mysql_stop.bat")

    # Kill lingering processes after attempting to stop them gracefully
    kill_service("xampp-control.exe")  # xampp
    kill_service("httpd.exe")  # Apache
    kill_service("mysqld.exe")  # MySQL

    # Check if services are still running
    def check_service_stopped(service_name):
        tasklist_output = subprocess.check_output("tasklist", shell=True).decode()
        if service_name in tasklist_output:
            print(f"{service_name} is still running.")
        else:
            print(f"{service_name} has been stopped.")

    # Check Apache and MySQL status
    check_service_stopped("httpd.exe")  # Apache
    check_service_stopped("mysqld.exe")  # MySQL

    print("Apache and MySQL services have been stopped.")

else:
    print("Please specify --start or --stop parameter.")

sys.exit(0)

I have the file in a folder that is set in environment variables, so i’m able to run it from anywhere using:

xampp.py --start

or to stop

xampp.py --stop

Problem:
both works. but when i run xampp.py –stop it opens py.exe does its job and closes it. but along with that it opens 2 new cmd windows. and i cannot figure out why and from where it opens those.

both cmd window shows this:

The system cannot find the path specified.

D:projects>