root/desktop.py

#!/usr/bin/env python
# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-

import os as _os
import sys as _sys

try:
        import gnome as _gnome
        _has_gnome = True
except ImportError:
        _has_gnome = False

def _spawn_executable(close_stdout = False, close_stderr = False, *args):
        pid = _os.fork()
        if pid == 0:
                # Child process
                
                # Close stdout and/or stderr
                null = _os.open('/dev/null', _os.O_WRONLY)
                if close_stdout: _os.dup2(null, 1)
                if close_stderr: _os.dup2(null, 2)
                _os.close(null)
                
                # Run it
                try:
                        _os.execlp(args[0], *args)
                except OSError:
                        _sys.exit(127)
        else:
                status = _os.waitpid(pid, 0)[1]
                return _os.WIFEXITED(status) and (_os.WEXITSTATUS(status) == 0)

def _test_executable(*args):
        return _spawn_executable(True, True, *args)

def _spawn_quiet(*args):
        return _spawn_executable(True, False, *args)

_has_xdg = _test_executable('xdg-open', '--help')
_has_exo = _test_executable('exo-open', '--help')

def url_show(url):
        if _has_xdg: # freedesktop is the best choice :p
                return _spawn_quiet('xdg-open', url)
        elif _has_gnome: # shouldn't also check for gnome-open ?
                return _gnome.url_show(url)
        elif _has_exo: # for xfce
                return _spawn_quiet('exo-open', url)
        # add your favorite desktop here ;)
        
        return False