Exploring a Directory - Python Programming Exercise

import os
import time

def get_file_info(file_path):
    """Get details like size, type, and creation date for a given file."""
    try:
        file_size = os.path.getsize(file_path)  # File size in bytes
        file_creation_time = os.path.getctime(file_path)  # File creation time (epoch)
        file_type = "Directory" if os.path.isdir(file_path) else "File"
        file_creation_date = time.strftime('%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S', time.localtime(file_creation_time))

        return file_size, file_type, file_creation_date
    except Exception as e:
        print(f"Error retrieving information for {file_path}: {e}")
        return None, None, None

def explore_directory(directory_path):
    """Explore the specified directory and list its contents."""
    if not os.path.exists(directory_path):
        print(f"Error: The directory '{directory_path}' does not exist.")
        return
    
    if not os.path.isdir(directory_path):
        print(f"Error: '{directory_path}' is not a valid directory.")
        return
    
    print(f"Exploring directory: {directory_path}\n")
    try:
        # List the files and directories
        for root, dirs, files in os.walk(directory_path):
            # Print the details for subdirectories
            for directory in dirs:
                dir_path = os.path.join(root, directory)
                file_size, file_type, file_creation_date = get_file_info(dir_path)
                print(f"Directory: {directory}")
                print(f"  Path: {dir_path}")
                print(f"  Size: {file_size} bytes")
                print(f"  Type: {file_type}")
                print(f"  Created on: {file_creation_date}\n")
            
            # Print the details for files
            for file in files:
                file_path = os.path.join(root, file)
                file_size, file_type, file_creation_date = get_file_info(file_path)
                print(f"File: {file}")
                print(f"  Path: {file_path}")
                print(f"  Size: {file_size} bytes")
                print(f"  Type: {file_type}")
                print(f"  Created on: {file_creation_date}\n")
                
    except PermissionError:
        print(f"Error: Permission denied while accessing '{directory_path}'")
    except Exception as e:
        print(f"Unexpected error: {e}")

def main():
    """Main function to initiate the directory exploration."""
    directory_path = input("Enter the directory path to explore: ").strip()
    explore_directory(directory_path)

if __name__ == '__main__':
    main()

 Output

Enter the directory path to explore: /home/user/Documents

Exploring directory: /home/user/Documents

Directory: SubFolder1
  Path: /home/user/Documents/SubFolder1
  Size: 4096 bytes
  Type: Directory
  Created on: 2024-01-15 10:35:12

File: example_file.txt
  Path: /home/user/Documents/example_file.txt
  Size: 2048 bytes
  Type: File
  Created on: 2023-12-01 14:22:45

File: image.jpg
  Path: /home/user/Documents/image.jpg
  Size: 102400 bytes
  Type: File
  Created on: 2023-11-18 08:11:30