Gets the "minimal" paths that comprise a directory's contents while excluding a set of child paths.

get_minimal_paths.py

def get_minimal_paths(root_directory, paths_to_exclude=None, paths_to_include=None):
    """
    Gets the "minimal" paths that comprise a directory's contents while excluding a set of child paths.

    For example, given this directory hierarchy:

    C:/Engine
        Binaries
        Documentation
        Plugins
            2D
            FX
            Media

    And excluding paths "Documentation" and "Plugins/FX", the result would be:

    [
        "Binaries",
        "Plugins/2D",
        "Plugins/Media",
    ]

    If paths to include are passed, it and all its siblings are added to the result.
    """
    minimal_paths = set(os.listdir(rootDirectory))

    paths_to_exclude = paths_to_exclude or []
    paths_to_exclude = [os.path.normpath(path) for path in paths_to_exclude]

    paths_to_include = paths_to_include or []
    paths_to_include = [os.path.normpath(path) for path in paths_to_include]

    def replace_path_parents_with_siblings(target_path):
        """
        If a parent of the path is present, replace it with all its child directories.
        Continue until no parent paths remain in the set.
        """
        while True:
            parent_path = next((path for path in minimal_paths
                               if target_path.startswith(path) and path != target_path), None)
            if not parent_path:
                return

            absolute_parent_path = os.path.join(root_directory, parent_path)

            child_paths = [os.path.join(parent_path, directory)
                          for directory in os.listdir(absolute_parent_path)]
            child_paths = [path for path in child_paths
                          if path not in paths_to_exclude]

            minimal_paths.remove(parent_path)
            minimal_paths.update(child_paths)

    for path in paths_to_exclude:
        replace_path_parents_with_siblings(path)

    for path in paths_to_include:
        minimal_paths.add(path)
        replace_path_parents_with_siblings(path)

    return sorted(minimal_paths)