Change working directory from python or shell script

Question

I like to do something like this in python or bash, where the program transform the given file path and move the current shell.

ulka:~/scc/utils$ python prog.py some_path1
ulka:some_path2$

Here

some_path1 -> prog.py -> some_path2

I tried with subprocess.call or os.chdir, but it's not work, any idea will be appreciated.

Your python code runs in its own child process. It can't cd its parent process — OneCricketeer
– OneCricketeer, Commented Mar 21, 2017 at 20:32

Harvey · Accepted Answer · 2017-03-21 20:36:29Z

2

Since python runs in its own process, it won't be able to change the current directory of your shell. However, you could do something like this:

change_path() {
    # prog.py figures out the real path that you want and prints
    # it to standard output
    local new_path=$(python prog.py some_path1)  # could use an argument "$1"
    cd "$new_path"
}

answered Mar 21, 2017 at 20:36

Harvey

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2 Comments

Ulka Over a year ago

Great, I like this idea.

Jean-François Fabre Over a year ago

nice solution for a near impossible problem. @Ulka accept the answer if you think it's the best one.

Community · Accepted Answer · 2017-05-23 12:32:23Z

1

It's possible for a shell script to change your shell's current working directory if you run it with source or .. If you run your script like this, a cd command will be all you need. If you're running a shell script without source or ., or if you're running anything that's not a shell script, then there's no nice way to do it, and you'd be forced to resort to nasty hacks like injecting into the process with a debugger (not recommended, but see How do I set the working directory of the parent process? and/or https://unix.stackexchange.com/questions/281994/changing-the-current-working-directory-of-a-certain-process if you really must do this).

edited May 23, 2017 at 12:32

CommunityBot

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answered Mar 21, 2017 at 20:39

Joseph Sible-Reinstate Monica

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