check if a file is 'complete' (with python)

Question

is it possible to check if a file is done copying of if its complete using python?
or even on the command line.
i manipulate files programmatically in a specific folder on mac osx but i need to check if the file is complete before running the code which makes the manipulation.

Answer 1

There's no notion of "file completeness" in the Unix/Mac OS X filesystem. You could either try locking the file with flock or, simpler, copy the files to a subdir of the destination directory temporarily, then move them out once they're fully copied (assuming you have control over the program that does the copying). Moving is an atomic operation; you'll know the file is completely copied once it appears at the expected path.

Answer 2

take the md5 of the file before you copy and then again whenever you think you are done copying. when they match you are good to go. use md5 from the hashlib module for this.