diff --git a/docs/index.rst b/docs/index.rst
index 36bb4e117..7bb7839f8 100644
--- a/docs/index.rst
+++ b/docs/index.rst
@@ -415,7 +415,7 @@ comfortably within the pager.
 Additionally, you can pipe the contents of the scrollback buffer to an
 arbitrary, command running in a new window, tab or overlay, for example::
 
-   map f1 pipe @ansi window less +G -R
+   map f1 launch --stdin-source=@screen_scrollback --stdin-add-formatting less +G -R
 
 Would open the scrollback buffer in a new window when you press the :kbd:`F1`
 key. See :sc:`show_scrollback` for details.
diff --git a/docs/launch.rst b/docs/launch.rst
index ec254115c..f5c9d77f9 100644
--- a/docs/launch.rst
+++ b/docs/launch.rst
@@ -35,6 +35,20 @@ To pass the contents of the current screen and scrollback to the started process
 
 There are many more powerful options, refer to the complete list below.
 
+The piping environment
+--------------------------
+
+When using :option:`launch --stdin-source`, the program to which the data is
+piped has a special environment variable declared, ``KITTY_PIPE_DATA`` whose
+contents are::
+
+   KITTY_PIPE_DATA={scrolled_by}:{cursor_x},{cursor_y}:{lines},{columns}
+
+where ``scrolled_by`` is the number of lines kitty is currently scrolled by,
+``cursor_(x|y)`` is the position of the cursor on the screen with ``(1,1)``
+being the top left corner and ``{lines},{columns}`` being the number of rows
+and columns of the screen.
+
 
 Syntax reference
 ------------------
diff --git a/docs/pipe.rst b/docs/pipe.rst
index d1fa99ead..8f1289cd8 100644
--- a/docs/pipe.rst
+++ b/docs/pipe.rst
@@ -1,6 +1,9 @@
 Working with the screen and history buffer contents
 ======================================================
 
+.. warning::
+    The pipe action has been deprecated in favor of the
+    :doc:`launch <launch>` action which is more powerful.
 
 You can pipe the contents of the current screen and history buffer as
 :file:`STDIN` to an arbitrary program using the ``pipe`` function. The program
diff --git a/kitty/boss.py b/kitty/boss.py
index b7bf65ae5..492293f8f 100644
--- a/kitty/boss.py
+++ b/kitty/boss.py
@@ -914,6 +914,25 @@ class Boss:
         overlay_for = w.id if as_overlay and w.overlay_for is None else None
         return SpecialWindow(cmd, stdin, cwd_from=cwd_from, overlay_for=overlay_for, env=env)
 
+    def run_background_process(self, cmd, cwd=None, env=None, stdin=None, cwd_from=None):
+        import subprocess
+        if cwd_from:
+            with suppress(Exception):
+                cwd = cwd_of_process(cwd_from)
+
+        if stdin:
+            r, w = safe_pipe(False)
+            try:
+                subprocess.Popen(cmd, env=env, stdin=r, cwd=cwd)
+            except Exception:
+                os.close(w)
+            else:
+                thread_write(w, stdin)
+            finally:
+                os.close(r)
+        else:
+            subprocess.Popen(cmd, env=env, cwd=cwd)
+
     def pipe(self, source, dest, exe, *args):
         cmd = [exe] + list(args)
         window = self.active_window
@@ -939,24 +958,8 @@ class Boss:
                 func = set_clipboard_string if dest == 'clipboard' else set_primary_selection
                 func(stdin)
         else:
-            import subprocess
             env, stdin = self.process_stdin_source(stdin=source, window=window)
-            cwd = None
-            if cwd_from:
-                with suppress(Exception):
-                    cwd = cwd_of_process(cwd_from)
-            if stdin:
-                r, w = safe_pipe(False)
-                try:
-                    subprocess.Popen(cmd, env=env, stdin=r, cwd=cwd)
-                except Exception:
-                    os.close(w)
-                else:
-                    thread_write(w, stdin)
-                finally:
-                    os.close(r)
-            else:
-                subprocess.Popen(cmd, env=env, cwd=cwd)
+            self.run_background_process(cmd, cwd_from=cwd_from, stdin=stdin, env=env)
 
     def args_to_special_window(self, args, cwd_from=None):
         args = list(args)
diff --git a/kitty/cmds.py b/kitty/cmds.py
index c378b1f19..0154993b6 100644
--- a/kitty/cmds.py
+++ b/kitty/cmds.py
@@ -792,7 +792,7 @@ Do not print out the id of the newly created window.
 type=bool-set
 If specified the tab containing the window this command is run in is used
 instead of the active tab
-    ''' + '\n\n' + launch_options_spec(),
+    ''' + '\n\n' + launch_options_spec().replace(':option:`launch', ':option:`kitty @ launch'),
     argspec='[CMD ...]'
 )
 def cmd_launch(global_opts, opts, args):
@@ -841,7 +841,7 @@ def launch(boss, window, payload):
             tabs = [window.tabref()]
     tab = tabs[0]
     w = do_launch(boss, opts, pg(payload, 'args') or None, target_tab=tab)
-    return None if pg(payload, 'no_response') else str(w.id)
+    return None if pg(payload, 'no_response') else str(getattr(w, 'id', 0))
 # }}}
 
 
diff --git a/kitty/config_data.py b/kitty/config_data.py
index 107c8fd84..a496f950b 100644
--- a/kitty/config_data.py
+++ b/kitty/config_data.py
@@ -1073,13 +1073,13 @@ if is_macos:
 k('show_scrollback', 'kitty_mod+h', 'show_scrollback', _('Browse scrollback buffer in less'), long_text=_('''
 
 You can pipe the contents of the current screen + history buffer as
-:file:`STDIN` to an arbitrary program using the ``pipe`` function. For example,
+:file:`STDIN` to an arbitrary program using the ``launch`` function. For example,
 the following opens the scrollback buffer in less in an overlay window::
 
-    map f1 pipe @ansi overlay less +G -R
+    map f1 launch --stdin-source=@screen_scrollback --stdin-add-formatting --type=overlay less +G -R
 
 For more details on piping screen and buffer contents to external programs,
-see :doc:`pipe`.
+see :doc:`launch`.
 '''))
 
 
diff --git a/kitty/launch.py b/kitty/launch.py
index 6a4fe24e9..24c20d7ef 100644
--- a/kitty/launch.py
+++ b/kitty/launch.py
@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@
 
 
 from kitty.cli import parse_args
+from kitty.fast_data_types import set_clipboard_string
+from kitty.utils import set_primary_selection
 
 
 def options_spec():
@@ -22,11 +24,14 @@ of the actie window in the tab is used as the tab title.
 --type
 type=choices
 default=window
-choices=window,tab,os-window,overlay
+choices=window,tab,os-window,overlay,background,clipboard,primary
 Where to launch the child process, in a new kitty window in the current tab,
 a new tab, or a new OS window or an overlay over the current window.
 Note that if the current window already has an overlay, then it will
-open a new window.
+open a new window. The value of none means the process will be
+run in the background. The values clipboard and primary are meant
+to work with :option:`launch --stdin-source` to copy data to the system
+clipboard or primary selection.
 
 
 --keep-focus
@@ -197,8 +202,15 @@ def launch(boss, opts, args, target_tab=None):
             if penv:
                 env.update(penv)
 
-    tab = tab_for_window(boss, opts, target_tab)
-    new_window = tab.new_window(env=env or None, **kw)
-    if opts.keep_focus and active:
-        boss.set_active_window(active, switch_os_window_if_needed=True)
-    return new_window
+    if opts.type == 'background':
+        boss.run_background_process(kw['cmd'], cwd=kw.get('cwd'), cwd_from=kw.get('cwd_from'), env=env or None, stdin=kw.get('stdin'))
+    elif opts.type in ('clipboard', 'primary'):
+        if 'stdin' in kw:
+            func = set_clipboard_string if opts.type == 'clipboard' else set_primary_selection
+            func(kw['stdin'])
+    else:
+        tab = tab_for_window(boss, opts, target_tab)
+        new_window = tab.new_window(env=env or None, **kw)
+        if opts.keep_focus and active:
+            boss.set_active_window(active, switch_os_window_if_needed=True)
+        return new_window