Unix shell script find out which directory the script file resides?

Question

Basically I need to run the script with paths related to the shell script file location, how can I change the current directory to the same directory as where the script fil

Answer 1

In Bash, you should get what you need like this:

#!/usr/bin/env bash

BASEDIR=$(dirname "$0")
echo "$BASEDIR"

Answer 2

An earlier comment on an answer said it, but it is easy to miss among all the other answers.

When using bash:

echo this file: "$BASH_SOURCE"
echo this dir: "$(dirname "$BASH_SOURCE")"

Bash Reference Manual, 5.2 Bash Variables

Answer 3

This one-liner tells where the shell script is, does not matter if you ran it or if you sourced it. Also, it resolves any symbolic links involved, if that is the case:

dir=$(dirname $(test -L "$BASH_SOURCE" && readlink -f "$BASH_SOURCE" || echo "$BASH_SOURCE"))

By the way, I suppose you are using /bin/bash.

Answer 4

If you're using bash....

#!/bin/bash

pushd $(dirname "${0}") > /dev/null
basedir=$(pwd -L)
# Use "pwd -P" for the path without links. man bash for more info.
popd > /dev/null

echo "${basedir}"

Answer 5

Inspired by blueyed’s answer

read < <(readlink -f $0 | xargs dirname)
cd $REPLY

Answer 6

cd $(dirname $(readlink -f $0))