The commands module is slated to go. The getstatus() function needs to be 
deprecated, with the rest of the module moving into subprocess (and thus 
adding commands to the 2to3 fix_import fixer).

I'm working on it.

Ok, here are the patches. Since it's a combination of renaming and
removing, I had to improvize a little, particularly in the 2.6
documentation. Hope it's done correctly.

I still have doubts about the following issue, as commented in
test_commands.py :
# The module says:
#   "NB This only works (and is only relevant) for UNIX."
#
# Actually, getoutput should work on any platform with an os.popen, but
# I'll take the comment as given, and skip this suite.

I played it safe as well and didn't change the platform test (both in
trunk/test_py3kwarn and py3k/test_subprocess). Should this restriction
remain ?

Ok, here are the patches. Since it's a combination of renaming and
removing, I had to improvise a little (particularly in the 2.6
documentation). Hope it's done correctly.

I still have doubts about the following issue. As commented in
test_commands.py:
# The module says:
#   "NB This only works (and is only relevant) for UNIX."
#
# Actually, getoutput should work on any platform with an os.popen, but
# I'll take the comment as given, and skip this suite.

I also decided to play it safe and didn't change the test (both in
trunk/test_py3kwarn and py3k/test_subprocess). Should this restriction
remain?

Sorry for the double post

r63715 has the 3.0 changes; biggest difference is that I also ripped out 
the mk2arg() and friends since they are not used by anyone.

I still need to add the fixer and add the proper warnings in 2.6 along 
with the doc change.

2.6 things done in r63721.

Thanks for adding the warnings, Benjamin. The docs for 2.6 still need to 
be updated about the rename/merge. I have replied to your commit with some 
comments.

And I think the 2to3 fixer still needs to be done. Because of all this I 
am re-opening this issue.

I've updated the 2to3 import fixer (mkarg/mk2arg not handled anymore).

I've committed Quentin's 2to3 addition as r63729.