How to determine config file path in python?

Question

I have a module that needs to initialize some settings by reading a config file. The directory structure looks something like this:

root\
    config\
        conf.cfg
    src\
        module1.py

I'm fine when I set the relative path to ../config/conf.cfg and run the module in its current directory. But when I import the module somewhere else and run it in another directory I run into problems.

How should I set the path so the module always looks in the same relative location (eg one directory up from where the module is located) and how do I ensure this works for other people that download my repo (who may not have root in the same place)?

Answer 1

os.path.realpath(__file__) 

will give you the path of the current file, resolving any symlinks in the path. This works fine on my machine.