Writing Utilities

I’m going to take some code from Exercise_06 and I’m going to start building up some OS utilities. Save the new file under Exercises_07 as detect_working_directory.py

Consider the changes.

1. I’ve added an import to the sys and os libraries.

2. I’m going to define global variables which I can use anywhere in the code.

3. I am going to exit the programme unless I detect Windows or Linux.

4. I have added a simple function to get my working path and print it for diagnostics.

"""
directory_utilities.py
By: JOR
Date: 01OCT22
"""

import os, platform

# Define global variables
current_working_directory = None

def detect_os()->str:
    # Detect the OS in use
    return platform.system()

def detect_working_directory()->str:
    # Returns the directory this script was run from
    return os.getcwd()

if (__name__ == '__main__'):
    print(f"This module executes as a standalone script")
    
    # Check the OS in use, lower case
    my_os = detect_os()
    my_os = my_os.lower()
    
    # Parse the response, only check for Windows and Linux
    if my_os == "windows":
        print("Your system is Windows")
    elif my_os == "linux":
        print("Your system is Linux")
    else:
        print(f"Cannot continue, unidentified system = {my_os}")
        sys.exit()

    # Get the current working directory
    current_working_directory = detect_working_directory()
    print(f"You are coding in: {current_working_directory}")

else:
    print(f"This module is called {__name__} and is being called by another script")

So far, I'm just taking responses from the operating system. the if statement is now only checking for Linux and Windows. The else option deals with any other OS and exits the program.