Script directory path regardless of current/working directory

Question

Is there a way to get the script directory regardless of change in current directory that occurred during script execution.

echo $(dirname "$(readlink -f "$0")")
cd /tmp
echo $(dirname "$(readlink -f "$0")")

/home/user/test
/tmp

In the example above, I need /home/user/test both times, without storing it to a variable.

Yes, that would be one method, and I use it now, but perhaps there is another way. — Sergei Rodionov, Mar 13 '21 at 08:07
That's actually difficult to do in all cases; see ["How can I get the source directory of a Bash script from within the script itself?"](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/59895/how-can-i-get-the-source-directory-of-a-bash-script-from-within-the-script-itsel) and [BashFAQ #28: "How do I determine the location of my script? I want to read some config files from the same place."](http://mywiki.wooledge.org/BashFAQ/028) — Gordon Davisson, Mar 13 '21 at 10:24

score 1 · Answer 1 · answered Mar 13 '21 at 08:07

1

This should do the job in your script:

dir="$(readlink /proc/$PPID/cwd)"

answered Mar 13 '21 at 08:07

Cyrus

1

This only works if the script was run from the same directory the script itself is in, *and* it hasn't been backgrounded and the parent process changed directories, *and* you're on a system that has /proc. – Gordon Davisson Mar 13 '21 at 10:27
Indeed, the script directory resolves to the user's home when launched from cron – Sergei Rodionov Mar 13 '21 at 12:17
@GordonDavisson: Thank you for the hints. Yes, the scope is limited. – Cyrus Mar 13 '21 at 18:09

1 Answers1