How can I get the application path in C?

Question

I'm using GTK to create an interface for my C program running Linux.

I'm using this function to load my XML interface:

gtk_builder_add_from_file(builder, g_build_filename("myInterface.glade", NULL), &error);

As long as I'm in the same directory as my compiled file, it works. But if I'm in another directory, let say a child one and I execute it: ../a.out, my program doesn't find the file.

So the idea is to first get the program path ("/home/.../program") and to add the file name to get an absolute path.

But I have no idea how can I get the program path. And I'm not sure this is the best idea to make it work.

Any idea? Thanks!

Answer 1

argv[0] contain the relative/full path you ran to run the program.

just scan up to the last '/' and this will be the run dir from your current location

'edit' after some more research, i found this, which works in all cases:

#include<stdio.h>
#include <unistd.h>
#include <string.h>
#include <libgen.h>
int main()
{
  char path[500] = {0};
  int dest_len = 500;
  if (readlink ("/proc/self/exe", path, dest_len) != -1)
    {
        dirname (path);
        strcat  (path, "/");
        printf("path=%s\n", path);
    }
}

Answer 2

In your case where you are using GTK, it is better to use GResource and compile myInterface.glade directly into your program.