A Python script that recursively searches for a parent directory containing specific marker files (.git, .here, etc.). The script prints the relative path of the current directory or specified files to this parent directory. Useful for generating relative paths within structured projects or repositories.

relpath.py

#!/usr/bin/env python
import os
import sys


def eprint(*args, **kwargs):
    print(*args, file=sys.stderr, **kwargs)


def find_marker_dir(start_path, markers):
    current_dir = (
        start_path
        if os.path.isdir(os.path.realpath(start_path))
        else os.path.dirname(start_path)
    )
    while True:
        if any(marker in os.listdir(current_dir) for marker in markers):
            break
        else:
            parent_dir = os.path.dirname(current_dir)
            if parent_dir == current_dir:  # We've reached the root directory
                return None
            current_dir = parent_dir
    return os.path.relpath(start_path, current_dir)


markers = [".git", ".here"]  # add or remove markers here as needed

# if no argument is passed, use current directory
pwd = os.getenv("PWD")
if len(sys.argv) == 1:
    relative_path = find_marker_dir(pwd, markers)
    if relative_path is None:
        eprint(
            "No directory found in the ancestry of the current directory with the following markers:",
            markers,
        )
    else:
        print(relative_path)
# if there are arguments, treat them as files
else:
    for filename in sys.argv[1:]:
        relative_path = find_marker_dir(os.path.join(pwd, filename), markers)
        if relative_path is None:
            eprint(
                f"No directory found in the ancestry of the file {filename} with the following markers: {markers}"
            )
        else:
            print(relative_path)