--- a/hq/main.py	Wed May 26 18:56:34 2010 -0700
+++ b/hq/main.py	Mon Mar 11 14:51:56 2013 -0700
@@ -1,29 +1,25 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python
+
 """
 mercurial queue extension front-end policy manager
 """
 
+# TODO: migrate to http://k0s.org/hg/CommandParser/
+
 import os
 import subprocess
 import sys
 
 from command import CommandParser
 
-def call(command, *args, **kw):
-    code = subprocess.call(command, *args, **kw)
-    if code:
-        if isinstance(command, basestring):
-            cmdstr = command
-        else:
-            cmdstr = ' '.join(command)
-        raise SystemExit("Command `%s` exited with code %d" % (cmdstr, code))
+call = subprocess.check_output
 
 class HQ(object):
     """
     mercurial queue extension front-end policy manager
     """
 
-    def __init__(self, queue_host=None, network=True):
+    def __init__(self, queue_host=None, network=True, root=None, binary='hg'):
         """initialize global options"""
         # TODO: look at hgrc file
         # for [defaults] repository_host
@@ -34,6 +30,14 @@
 
         self.queue_host = queue_host
 
+        if root is None:
+            root = call(['hg', 'root']).strip()
+        self.root = root
+
+        self.binary = binary
+
+    ### subcommands
+
     def clone(self, repo, patch=None, queue=None):
         """
         clone the repository and begin a patch queue
@@ -50,7 +54,7 @@
         else:
             # (optionally) setup a new repo
             pass # TODO
-            
+
         if patch:
             # create a new patch
             call(['hg', 'qnew', patch])
@@ -96,6 +100,25 @@
         stdout, stderr = process.communicate()
         return stdout
 
+    def status(self):
+        """
+        display status
+        """
+
+        # TODO: once this is on CommandParser, there should be a utility in
+        # command parser to allow aliases; e.g. if you do ``st = status`` at
+        # the class scope, you can run through the methods and only display
+        # one as canon but allow aliases as such.
+        # Alternatively, you can allow any short non-ambiguous abbreviation.
+
+        return '\n'.join([self._call(i).strip() for i in ('status', 'qseries')])
+
+    ### internals
+
+    def _call(self, *args):
+        command = [self.binary] + list(args)
+        return call(command, cwd=self.root)
+
     def _patch_repo(self):
         """the location of the patch repository"""
         root = subprocess.Popen(['hg', 'root'], stdout=subprocess.PIPE).communicate()[0]