How can I programmatically detect what directory an executable is in when it is run?

Question

I've been playing around with Command Line Tools in Xcode and I have stumbled upon something that I have no clue how to handle.

If I build my tool, and put the executable on the desktop, is it possible to run the executable and have the output be the directory that 'self' is in? Meaning, can I log 'Hey I am in: /Users/me/Desktop'?

And then if I were to move that file elsewhere, have that change?

Is there some sort of environment variable I could use for this?

Thanks!

Lizza · Accepted Answer · 2013-08-16 04:23:48Z

1

Ok, wow. Didn't think I'd be able to find an answer this quick but here it is. Turns out that the location of the file is one of the arguments passed into main.

Here is the code:

 for (int i=0; i<argc; i++) { NSLog(@"argv[%d] = '%s'", i, argv[i]); }

Interesting!

edited Aug 16, 2013 at 4:23

answered Aug 16, 2013 at 4:18

Lizza

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3 Comments

rmaddy Over a year ago

Yep, argv[0] for any C/C++/Objective-C program is the program being run.

rmaddy Over a year ago

Why create the NSString? Just do NSLog(@"argv[%d] = '%s'", i, argv[i]);

Lizza Over a year ago

I just grabbed the code from the referenced link. Updated with yours. Thanks!

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