Python os.path.expandvars only works for some variables

Question

Running os.path.expandvars fails for some env variables. Seems too basic to be real.

$ echo $HOSTTYPE 
x86_64
$ echo $HOME     
/labhome/eladw
$ pyt         


        

Answer 1

Environment variables set in a shell are not automatically exported to subprocesses. Just because your shell has a HOSTTYPE variable, doesn't mean this is variable is visible to subprocesses.

Export the variable first:

$ export HOSTTYPE

You can combine setting and exporting a variable in one step with:

$ export HOSTTYPE=x86_64

Demo:

$ HOSTTYPE=x86_64
$ python -c 'import os; print os.path.expandvars("$HOSTTYPE")'
$HOSTTYPE
$ export HOSTTYPE
$ python -c 'import os; print os.path.expandvars("$HOSTTYPE")'
x86_64

See Difference between environment variables and exported environment variables in bash.