How to run the cd command in the terminal through Python script?

Python
1

I want to run cd command in the terminal through my Python script. I just discovered a module called subprocess, do you have any idea why the Popen() method doesn’t change the directory in the terminal, it seems like it changes the state only.

    if p:
	    return subprocess.Popen(['cd'], cwd = target_dir, shell = True)
    return 'directory does not exist'

Terminal:

<subprocess.Popen object at 0x7f805ef045e0>

When I changed the command, it seems working:

    if p:
	    return subprocess.Popen(['ls', '-a'], cwd = target_dir, shell = True)
    return 'directory does not exist'

Terminal:

<subprocess.Popen object at 0x7ff1ef1ec5e0>
.  ..  projects  books  resources  docs

Your help is much appreciated!

2

I’m afraid I’m not familiar with the subprocess module.

Whenever I’ve needed to change the working directory in Python, I’ve used the os module.
There’s a short tutorial here on using the os module to do that

1 Like
3

Thank you for your help, I will give it a try.

4

Because it is running that command in a new shell.

5

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