35

Is it possible to make a python script that will delete the .py file at the end of its execution (self-delete) in windows?

Dschoni
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Serban Razvan
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6 Answers6

35

This way makes your program non OS dependant.

from os import remove
from sys import argv

remove(argv[0])

Bonus points: When parsing arguments the very first argument that you get in sys.argv is equals to "path-to-filename/filename.py"

A. Sarid
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Neomind
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    actually, every module is injected with the `__file__` variable, which contains the full-path to the .py file. just `os.remove(__file__)` no need to check argv, or other imports – jsbueno Jul 04 '22 at 15:22
11

Neomind's answer seems to do the trick. But if deleting the file while it's in memory bothers you, and you're looking for a pure python solution, then you could use subprocess to create a new process with the explicit purpose of deleting your original script file. Something like this should work:

import sys, subprocess 
subprocess.Popen("python -c \"import os, time; time.sleep(1); os.remove('{}');\"".format(sys.argv[0]))
sys.exit(0)

You probably wouldn't need the timeout in there but I've added it just to make sure that the process from the original script has been given enough time to close itself.

neatnick
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8

I'm not sure deleting a file while it's in memory would be a good idea. Try running a batch file from the script which closes the script process, then deletes the script file.

There may be a native method to self destruct a script, but I am not aware of it.

EDIT: Here is a simple example of how you could accomplish this using the method I described:

In the script

# C:\test.py
import os
os.startfile(r"C:\sampleBatch.bat")

In the batch

# C:\sampleBatch.bat
TASKKILL /IM "process name" #For me, this was "ipy64.exe" because I use IronPython.
DEL "C:\test.py"

You may not even need to kill the process to delete the file, but it is safer to do so. Hope this helps.

covertCoder
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    And is there a way to self destruct the batch file after closing the script? – Serban Razvan Apr 11 '12 at 19:43
  • The batch file should be able to destroy the file upon process closure. Use the DEL "scriptpathhere" command in the batch file to do so. I'll put up a small snippet in a sec. – covertCoder Apr 11 '12 at 19:51
  • The batch file should be able to delete itself, if it's the last thing it does. But you'll get an error »The batch file cannot be found« in that case at the end. – Joey Jun 29 '12 at 07:49
  • to delete the batch file, create another batch file. – Mujtaba Dec 11 '22 at 15:29
4

Yes, you could use the following:

import os
import sys
import subprocess

# execute and remove after run
(Your python code)
# end of file

dir = os.getcwd()
os.remove(dir+'\%s' % sys.argv[0])

This script can be modified of course, but besides that this should work

user270025
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4

You could also make use of the atexit module.

import os, atexit

atexit.register(lambda file = __file__: os.remove(file))
astqx
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2

There is a rather simple method: 

import os   

os.remove("insert the file's path")

If you're facing problems, place an 'r' before the starting quotations mark.

Lukas Körfer
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Shehab Ismail
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