[SOLVED] How can I make an app think it's running in another directory (without merely changing HOME env. var.)?

[s3a]

How can I make an app think it's running in another directory (without merely changing HOME environment variable, which doesn't always work, and it also doesn't work with non-home directories)?

Any input would be GREATLY appreciated!

[canci]

CLI tools usually should respect cd PATH or some flag like --path. Many GUI tools also do that.

It's really hard to say though, since you didn't tell us what app you mean.

[wizard10000]

Yep - we need a use case to understand what you're trying to do

[user6c57b8]

How can I make an app think it's running in another directory?

chdir() #in python/perl/php/C/C++
cd #in bash

Just google 'chdir $your_language_of_choice_here'

[s3a]

I don't think any of these answer would do what I need, but thanks anyways.

It seems what I need is to use firejail --noprofile --private=/home/user/fake_home.

For example,

Code: Select all

firejail --noprofile --private=/home/user/fake_home bash

and then, everything would seem like it's being done in /home/user, but it'd really be done in /home/user/fake_home.

Basically, I wanted to sandbox my IDE and toolchain environment (that are from upstream and not in the Debian repositories (because I'm paranoid )).

Edit:
I also wanted to isolate the files made from the rest of the system.

P.S.
That doesn't allow one to fool an app into thinking its non-home directories are other than they are, but I don't really need that for my use case anyways.