python os.open usage while opening a directory

Question

I have this:

drwxr-xr-x 8 abc root 4096 Dec 21 19:56 javaprac

This works:

>>> fd = os.open(os.getcwd() , os.O_RDONLY)

But why do these two fail:

>>> fd = os.open(os.getcwd() , os.O_RDWR)
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "<stdin>", line 1, in <module>
OSError: [Errno 21] Is a directory: '/home/abc/javaprac'

>>> fd = os.open(os.getcwd() , os.O_WRONLY)
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "<stdin>", line 1, in <module>
OSError: [Errno 21] Is a directory: '/home/abc/javaprac'

Why do you want to write directly to the directory node? What are you trying to do here? — Martijn Pieters
– Martijn Pieters, Commented Dec 22, 2013 at 4:09
@MartijnPieters My question is simple and direct with no deeper meaning: Why can't I write to a directory like this ? Why is the behavior the way it is? — Ankur Agarwal
– Ankur Agarwal, Commented Dec 22, 2013 at 5:22

jsf80238 · Accepted Answer · 2013-12-22 04:14:37Z

2

On Linux, at least, you cannot write to a directory.

$ echo hello >> .
bash: .: Is a directory

You can read from a directory, that what the ls and dir commands do.

answered Dec 22, 2013 at 4:14

jsf80238

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