How to know/change current directory in Python shell?

Question

I am using Python 3.2 on Windows 7. When I open the Python shell, how can I know what the current directory is? How can I change it to another directory (where my modules are)?

Accepted Answer

You can use the `os` module.

```
>>> import os
>>> os.getcwd()
'/home/user'
>>> os.chdir("/tmp/")
>>> os.getcwd()
'/tmp'
```

But if it's about finding other modules: You can set an environment variable called `PYTHONPATH`, under Linux would be like

```
export PYTHONPATH=/path/to/my/library:$PYTHONPATH
```

Then, the interpreter searches also at this place for `import`ed modules. I guess the name would be the same under Windows, but don't know how to change.

edit

Under Windows:

```
set PYTHONPATH=%PYTHONPATH%;C:\My_python_lib
```

(taken from http://docs.python.org/using/windows.html)

edit 2

... and even better: use `virtualenv` and `virtualenv_wrapper`, this will allow you to create a development environment where you can add module paths as you like (`add2virtualenv`) without polluting your installation or "normal" working environment.

http://virtualenvwrapper.readthedocs.org/en/latest/command_ref.html

How to know/change current directory in Python shell?

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