Python: Getting AppData folder in a cross-platform way

Question

I\'d like a code snippet that gets the proper directory for app data (config files, etc) on all platforms (Win/Mac/Linux at least). For example: %APPDATA%/ on Windows.

Answer 1

I recommend researching the locations of 'appdata' in the operating systems that you want to use this program on. Once you know the locations you could simple use if statements to detect the os and do_something().

import sys
if sys.platform == "platform_value":
    do_something()
elif sys.platform == "platform_value":
    do_something()

• System: platform_value
• Linux (2.x and 3.x): 'linux2'
• Windows: 'win32'
• Windows/Cygwin: 'cygwin'
• Mac OS X: 'darwin'
• OS/2: 'os2'
• OS/2 EMX: 'os2emx'
• RiscOS: 'riscos'
• AtheOS: 'atheos'

List is from the official Python docs. (Search for 'sys.platform')