code: def _prepare_arguments(self, arguments):
          
          # Split arguments if given as string
          if arguments is not None:
              if isinstance(arguments, basestring):
                  self.arguments = arguments.split()
              else:
                  self.arguments = arguments
          # Otherwise properly decode command line arguments
          else:
              self.arguments = [arg.decode("utf-8") for arg in sys.argv[1:]]
docs: Prepare arguments (both direct and from command line)