Python import from a different directory using "~" symbol

Question

Under a linux structure, i've noticed that the following works:

import sys
sys.path.append("/home/username/fullpathname/")
import my_module

however the following does not

import sys
sys.path.append("~/fullpathname")
import my_module

is there a way to use the "~" operator? I don't understand why python wants the full directory. Thank you!

`~` is expanded by the shell. Python needs a real path, whether relative or absolute. — Cameron, Apr 26 '12 at 02:54
See the accepted answer of http://stackoverflow.com/questions/4906977/python-environment-variables — dwerner, Apr 26 '12 at 02:54

score 7 · Answer 1 · answered Apr 26 '12 at 02:54

7

You can use os.path.expanduser:

import sys, os
sys.path.append(os.path.expanduser("~/fullpathname"))
import mymodule

answered Apr 26 '12 at 02:54

Venge

Worked great! Thanks! Any idea why this is not default behavior? – user1357015 Apr 26 '12 at 03:04
~ only means 'home directory' on Unix systems. What if you were on Windows? – Venge Apr 26 '12 at 03:08
Just to add, even though ~user has no meaning to the Windows file system, `os.path.expanduser` should still work on Windows... – mgilson Apr 26 '12 at 03:13

1 Answers1