Automator workflow hangs indefinitely after running Python script

Question

Hello,
I have an Automator workflow set up to use a one-line shell script to launch a Python script. The Python script has a GUI and stays open for the user to interact with it. It launches fine, but I've noticed that my Automator workflow hangs and the spinning workflow cursor won't disappear from the menu bar unless I manually kill the workflow or quit the Python app. Not a huge deal to kill it manually, but annoying.
I saw someone posted a way to kill an Automator workflow using an AppleScript or shell script embedded within the workflow, but adding that as a second step doesn't work for me—the Automator workflow never gets to that step, presumably because it's waiting for my Python app to close. Anyone know a way to make the Automator workflow kill itself after launching a Python script?

Answer 1

By default, AppleScript (and, by extension, Automator) will wait for theshell process to exit before continuing the workflow (or exiting if the shell script action is the last step.
This can be overcome by launching the shell process as a background process, which returns control to AppleScript/Automator, and allows your workflow to continue (or end).
Just append:
&> /dev/null
after your shell command to launch it in the background, e.g.:
/usr/bin/python /path/to/your.py &> /dev/null
and you should get what you expect.