Getting the home directory in Python and a bug in os.path.expanduser

[Edward Diener]

Neil Hodgson wrote:
> Edward Diener:
> 
>> Probably most reliable on Windows is a Windows API function, if it 
>> exists, for getting the home directory, as opposed to using 
>> environment variables, but I can not find any Windows API for it at 
>> present.
> 
>    Look at SHGetFolderPath(CSIDL_PROFILE, ...) for Windows Me/2000 or 
> later. CSIDL_APPDATA is probably a better idea than CSIDL_PROFILE (its 
> equivalent to "%USERPROFILE%\Application Data" and roams) but 
> %USERPROFILE% (CSIDL_PROFILE) is compatible with previous Python behaviour.
> http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms647764.aspx

Thanks, that looks good. For Windows Vista one should evidently use 
SHGetKnownFolderPath(FOLDERID_Profile,...) instead.