py awk wrapper

from subprocess import Popen, PIPE
from tempfile import NamedTemporaryFile
import os

def pyawk(input_data, script, params=None):
    """
    A simple AWK Wrapper; Bye-Bye regex!!!

    For example::

        input = '''
            1 2 3 4
            5 6 7 8
        '''
        script = '''
            { print;
              print $A;
              print "Don't forget to escape \\n \\\\n!"
              print $B;
            }
        '''
        params= {'A':'1',
                'B':'0'}

        print pyawk(input, script, params)
    """
    # Load script to tmp file
    script = dedent(script).strip()
    #script = shell_escape(script)
    tmpf = NamedTemporaryFile(delete=False)
    tmpf.write(script)
    tmpf.flush()
    tmpf.close()

    # Build commandline
    #pcmd = ['/usr/bin/gawk']
    pcmd = ['/usr/bin/mawk']
    pcmd.append('-f' + tmpf.name)
    if params:
        pcmd += list('-v' + k + '=' + v for k, v in params.iteritems() )
    #script = dedent(script).strip()
    if __DEBUG__: print "commandline:", pcmd

    # Run command
    p = Popen(pcmd, stdin=PIPE, stdout=PIPE, stderr=PIPE)
    output = p.communicate(input=input_data)

    try:
        os.remove(tmpf.name)
    except OSError:
        pass

    # Return stdout or stderr
    if p.returncode == 0:
        return output[0]
    else:
        return output[1]