title: Python doesn't find a directory using the home sign ~
body: <p>I have created a small Python script to save directories in a side directory, under the current user.
  I am running on Mac but production is Ubuntu</p>
  
  <p>My problem is the <strong>it doesn't manage to identify the dir with the home sign <code>~</code></strong></p>
  
  <pre><code>&gt;&gt;&gt; os.path.exists('/Users/partuck/cache_dir/bla')
  True
  &gt;&gt;&gt; os.path.exists('~/cache_dir/bla')
  False
  &gt;&gt;&gt; os.system('echo "$USER"')
  partuck
  0
  </code></pre>