Increment directory name if it already exists

Question

If I have a directory that already exists, called Test. How can I increment the directory name by 1, if I try creating a directory with the same name?

Answer 1

You may use either the Recursive or the Loop code.

Notes:

• Recursive code may result in an error (maximum recursion depth exceeded)
• Loop code, works well with no errors

Code | Recursive

import os

def generated_directory_name(name, x=0):
    dir_name = (name + (' ' + str(x) if x is not 0 else '')).strip()
    if not os.path.exists(dir_name):
        os.mkdir(dir_name)
        return dir_name
    else:
        return generate_directory_name(name, x + 1)

def create_directory():
    user_input = input("Enter name to create directory: ")
    generate_directory_name(user_input)

def main():
    cwd = os.getcwd()
    create_directory()

main()

Code | Loop

import os

def generate_directory_name(name, x=0):
    while True:
        dir_name = (name + (' ' + str(x) if x is not 0 else '')).strip()
        if not os.path.exists(dir_name):
            os.mkdir(dir_name)
            return dir_name
        else:
            x = x + 1

def create_directory():
    user_input = input("Enter name to create directory: ")
    generate_directory_name(user_input)

def main():
    cwd = os.getcwd()
    create_directory()

main()

Output