Script directory path regardless of current/working directory

Question

Is there a way to get the script directory regardless of change in current directory that occurred during script execution.

echo $(dirname "$(readlink -f "$0")") cd /tmp echo $(dirname "$(readlink -f "$0")")

/home/user/test /tmp

In the example above, I need /home/user/test both times, without storing it to a variable.

Yes, that would be one method, and I use it now, but perhaps there is another way. — Sergei Rodionov
– Sergei Rodionov, Commented Mar 13, 2021 at 8:07
That's actually difficult to do in all cases; see "How can I get the source directory of a Bash script from within the script itself?" and BashFAQ #28: "How do I determine the location of my script? I want to read some config files from the same place." — Gordon Davisson
– Gordon Davisson, Commented Mar 13, 2021 at 10:24

Cyrus · Accepted Answer · 2021-03-13 08:07:43Z

1

This should do the job in your script:

dir="$(readlink /proc/$PPID/cwd)"

answered Mar 13, 2021 at 8:07

Cyrus

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3 Comments

Gordon Davisson Over a year ago

This only works if the script was run from the same directory the script itself is in, and it hasn't been backgrounded and the parent process changed directories, and you're on a system that has /proc.

Sergei Rodionov Over a year ago

Indeed, the script directory resolves to the user's home when launched from cron

Cyrus Over a year ago

@GordonDavisson: Thank you for the hints. Yes, the scope is limited.

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