Python - I'm trying to get the output of pwd and instead i get the exit status

Question

I'm trying to get the output of pwd:

#!python
import os
pwd = os.system("pwd")
print (pwd)

it prints 0 which is the successful exit status instead the path. How can i get the path instead?

With `subprocess.Popen` you can store stdout/stderr in variables. — Santosh Kumar, Apr 21 '13 at 13:32
I hope you understand that for that particular purpose you should use os.getcwd() . — João Pinto, Apr 21 '13 at 13:37

score 17 · Accepted Answer · answered Apr 21 '13 at 13:34

17

Running system commands is better done with subprocess, but if you are using os already, why not just do

pwd = os.getcwd()

os.getcwd() is available on Windows and Unix.

answered Apr 21 '13 at 13:34

Lev Levitsky

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Also on MAC! (also Unix like - but just in case...) I've just used it :) – Kohn1001 Apr 21 '17 at 09:40

unutbu · Answer 2 · 2013-04-21T14:08:06.177

2

To get the current working directory, use os.getcwd(). But in general, if you want both the output and the return code:

import subprocess
PIPE = subprocess.PIPE
proc = subprocess.Popen(['pwd'], stdout=PIPE, stderr=PIPE)
out, err = proc.communicate()
errcode = proc.returncode
print(out)
print(errcode)

edited Apr 21 '13 at 14:08

answered Apr 21 '13 at 13:34

unutbu

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score 1 · Answer 3 · answered Apr 21 '13 at 13:34

You can't do that with os.system, although os.popen does return that value for you:

>>> import os
>>> os.popen('pwd').read()
'/c/Python27\n'

However the subprocess module is much more powerful and should be used instead:

>>> import subprocess
>>> p = subprocess.Popen('pwd', stdout=subprocess.PIPE)
>>> p.communicate()[0]
'/c/Python27\n'

score 1 · Answer 4 · answered Apr 21 '13 at 13:36

1

Current directory full path:

import os
print os.getcwd()

answered Apr 21 '13 at 13:36

Johnny

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Python - I'm trying to get the output of pwd and instead i get the exit status

4 Answers4