78 lines
3.1 KiB
TeX
78 lines
3.1 KiB
TeX
\section{Standard Module \sectcode{os}}
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\stmodindex{os}
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This module provides a more portable way of using operating system
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(OS) dependent functionality than importing an OS dependent built-in
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module like \code{posix}.
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When the optional built-in module \code{posix} is available, this
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module exports the same functions and data as \code{posix}; otherwise,
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it searches for an OS dependent built-in module like \code{mac} and
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exports the same functions and data as found there. The design of all
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Python's built-in OS dependen modules is such that as long as the same
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functionality is available, it uses the same interface; e.g., the
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function \code{os.stat(\var{file})} returns stat info about a \var{file} in a
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format compatible with the POSIX interface.
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Extensions peculiar to a particular OS are also available through the
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\code{os} module, but using them is of course a threat to portability!
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Note that after the first time \code{os} is imported, there is \emph{no}
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performance penalty in using functions from \code{os} instead of
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directly from the OS dependent built-in module, so there should be
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\emph{no} reason not to use \code{os}!
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In addition to whatever the correct OS dependent module exports, the
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following variables and functions are always exported by \code{os}:
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\renewcommand{\indexsubitem}{(in module os)}
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\begin{datadesc}{name}
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The name of the OS dependent module imported, e.g. \code{'posix'} or
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\code{'mac'}.
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\end{datadesc}
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\begin{datadesc}{path}
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The corresponding OS dependent standard module for pathname
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operations, e.g., \code{posixpath} or \code{macpath}. Thus, (given
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the proper imports), \code{os.path.split(\var{file})} is equivalent to but
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more portable than \code{posixpath.split(\var{file})}.
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\end{datadesc}
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\begin{datadesc}{curdir}
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The constant string used by the OS to refer to the current directory,
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e.g. \code{'.'} for POSIX or \code{':'} for the Mac.
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\end{datadesc}
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\begin{datadesc}{pardir}
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The constant string used by the OS to refer to the parent directory,
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e.g. \code{'..'} for POSIX or \code{'::'} for the Mac.
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\end{datadesc}
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\begin{datadesc}{sep}
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The character used by the OS to separate pathname components, e.g.
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\code{'/'} for POSIX or \code{':'} for the Mac. Note that knowing this
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is not sufficient to be able to parse or concatenate pathnames---better
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use \code{os.path.split()} and \code{os.path.join()}---but it is
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occasionally useful.
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\end{datadesc}
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\begin{funcdesc}{execl}{path\, arg0\, arg1\, ...}
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This is equivalent to a call to \code{os.execv} with an \var{argv}
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of \code{[\var{arg0}, \var{arg1}, ...]}.
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\end{funcdesc}
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\begin{funcdesc}{execle}{path\, arg0\, arg1\, ...\, env}
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This is equivalent to a call to \code{os.execve} with an \var{argv}
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of \code{[\var{arg0}, \var{arg1}, ...]}.
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\end{funcdesc}
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\begin{funcdesc}{execlp}{path\, arg0\, arg1\, ...}
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This is like \code{execl} but duplicates the shell's actions in
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searching for an executable file in a list of directories. The
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directory list is obtained from \code{environ['PATH']}.
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\end{funcdesc}
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\begin{funcdesc}{execvp}{path\, arg0\, arg1\, ...}
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\code{execvp} is for \code{execv} what \code{execlp} is for \code{execl}.
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\end{funcdesc}
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