Temporarily change Ruby working directory

def with_cwd dir
  original_dir = Dir.pwd
  begin
    Dir.chdir dir
    yield
  ensure
    Dir.chdir original_dir
  end
end

December 30th, 2008

2 Comments

  1. Mike

    Duncan, you may not have realized that you can simplify this significantly as Dir.chdir already accepts a block:

    def with_cwd dir
  Dir.chdir dir do
    yield  
  end
end

    It ensures that the current directory only changes for the context of the block. You can dispense with ‘def with_cwd’ and inline it as it is no longer necessary.

    December 30th, 2008

  2. duncanbeevers

    Thanks Mike,

    I should have known when I wanted to do this that Ruby would do the logical thing when handed a block. So nice!

    December 31st, 2008

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