How to Retrieve the Application Path in a pyInstaller-Generated EXE?

Retrieving Application Path in Python EXE Created by pyInstaller

In the realm of programming, understanding the execution context of an application is crucial. Especially when dealing with bundled applications, such as those created using pyInstaller. One common challenge arises when an application requires access to a configuration file located alongside it. In this article, we'll explore a technique to solve this issue by accurately retrieving the application's path within a pyInstaller-generated EXE.

When using the conventional method to construct the path to a file adjacent to the application, as depicted in the code snippet below:

import os
config_name = 'myapp.cfg'
config_path = os.path.join(sys.path[0], config_name)

One encounters a dilemma in the context of a pyInstaller EXE. The sys.path list, which normally contains the directory containing the application, is empty. To address this, we employ a more robust approach that distinguishes between scripts and frozen executables.

import os
import sys

config_name = 'myapp.cfg'

# Distinguish script file from frozen exe
if getattr(sys, 'frozen', False):
    application_path = os.path.dirname(sys.executable)
elif __file__:
    application_path = os.path.dirname(__file__)

config_path = os.path.join(application_path, config_name)

Within this code, we inspect the 'frozen' attribute of the 'sys' module. If it's True, we surmise that the application is running as a frozen executable and derive its path from 'sys.executable'. Conversely, if file exists, we conclude that the application is running in script mode, and its path is derived from __file__.

Utilizing this method guarantees the successful retrieval of the application's path, enabling access to relative files like the crucial configuration file.

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