How do i get the path of a the python script i am running in? i was doing dirname(sys.argv[0]) however on mac i got only the filename and not the full path as i do on windows.
No matter where my application is launched from, i want to open files that are relative to my script file(s) which is why i need the directory path.
7.2 of Dive Into Python: Finding the Path.
import sys, os
print 'sys.argv[0] =', sys.argv[0]
pathname = os.path.dirname(sys.argv[0])
print 'path =', pathname
print 'full path =', os.path.abspath(pathname)
If you have even the relative pathname (in this case it appears to be ./) you can open files relative to your script file(s). I use Perl, but the same general solution can apply: I split the directory into an array of folders, then pop off the last element (the script), then push (or for you, append) on whatever I want, and then join them together again, and BAM! I have a working pathname that points to exactly where I expect it to point, relative or absolute.
Of course, there are better solutions, as posted. I just kind of like mine.
os.path.realpath(__file__) will give you the path of the current file, resolving any symlinks in the path. This works fine on my mac.
The accepted solution for this will not work if you are planning to compile your scripts using py2exe. If you're planning to do so, this is the functional equivalent:
os.path.dirname(sys.argv[0])
Py2exe does not provide an __file__ variable. For reference: http://www.py2exe.org/index.cgi/Py2exeEnvironment