How can Python 3.9 be used to permanently modify a Linux user's $PATH?

Question

Distro: Debian 11
Python: 3.9.2
Shell: Bash
I'm attempting to permanently update a user's path using Python. I want to essentially do the equivalent of this using Python:

export PATH="$PATH:/usr/local/bin/folderA"  
export PATH="$PATH:$HOME/.local/share/folderB/bin"  
echo export PATH="$PATH:$HOME/.local/bin" >> "$HOME"/.bashrc

In Python I attempted:

import os  
from pathlib import Path  

dir_home = str(Path.home())  

os.system('export PATH=$PATH:/usr/local/bin/folderA')
os.system('export PATH=$PATH:' + dir_home + '/.local/share/folderB/bin')
os.system('echo export PATH=$PATH:' + dir_home + '/.local/bin >>' + dir_home + '/.bashrc')

The echo export PATH="$PATH:$HOME/.local/bin" >> "$HOME"/.bashrc works but the other two lines don't get input into the $PATH.

I don't care how it gets done though. I am using this method as I thought it was the way to do it.

Thanks

You cannot modify one process' environment from a subprocess. — Sören
– Sören, Commented Apr 20, 2022 at 15:32
That info really helped. Wasn't thinking. I will attempt to run all the commands in one os.system call and see if that works. Like this: stackoverflow.com/questions/20042205/… Thanks! — Wilhelm de Fheur Gorm
– Wilhelm de Fheur Gorm, Commented Apr 20, 2022 at 15:55

Wilhelm de Fheur Gorm · Accepted Answer · 2022-04-20 16:05:49Z

0

Run all the commands at once with one os.system call.

#################################################################################
import os
from pathlib import Path

dir_home = str(Path.home())

p1 = 'export PATH=$PATH:/usr/local/bin/folderA; '
p2 = 'export PATH=$PATH:' + dir_home + '/.local/share/folderB/bin; '
p3 = 'echo export PATH=$PATH:' + dir_home + '/.local/bin >>' + dir_home + '/.bashrc'

os.system(p1 + p2 + p3)
#################################################################################

answered Apr 20, 2022 at 16:05

Wilhelm de Fheur Gorm

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2 Comments

Mark Ransom Over a year ago

How can this possibly work? As noted in comments a subprocess can't change the environment of the parent, and os.system will make a subprocess. The final line will work to make a change to your .bashrc though.

Wilhelm de Fheur Gorm Over a year ago

I don't know anything, but it worked on my system.

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