Python: What OS am I running on?

Question

What do I need to look at to see whether I\'m on Windows or Unix, etc?

Answer 1

This solution works for both python and jython.

module os_identify.py:

import platform
import os

# This module contains functions to determine the basic type of
# OS we are running on.
# Contrary to the functions in the `os` and `platform` modules,
# these allow to identify the actual basic OS,
# no matter whether running on the `python` or `jython` interpreter.

def is_linux():
    try:
        platform.linux_distribution()
        return True
    except:
        return False

def is_windows():
    try:
        platform.win32_ver()
        return True
    except:
        return False

def is_mac():
    try:
        platform.mac_ver()
        return True
    except:
        return False

def name():
    if is_linux():
        return "Linux"
    elif is_windows():
        return "Windows"
    elif is_mac():
        return "Mac"
    else:
        return "" 

Use like this:

import os_identify

print "My OS: " + os_identify.name()