List files ONLY in the current directory

Techniques for directory listing: 'os' and 'pathlib'

Clearly os.listdir is handy, but for increased efficiency use os.scandir(), particularly for Python 3.5 and newer. os.scandir() retains a scanning iterator - enhancing performance by bypassing constant system calls.

Now let's modernize with the pathlib module that offers object-oriented filesystem paths:

from pathlib import Path

# Directory listing with pathlib, includes free "wow" factor
files_in_current_directory = (entry for entry in Path('.').iterdir() if entry.is_file())
print(list(files_in_current_directory))
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While filtering files in pathlib, we utilize is_file(), mirroring the function of os.path.isfile():

# Customary 'filter out the junk' Jenga move
files_in_current_directory = filter(lambda p: p.is_file(), Path('.').iterdir())
print(list(files_in_current_directory))
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Order in chaos: Arranging files by extension

Categorization is key. Let's classify files based on their extensions using a smart dictionary comprehension:

# Sorting files like a librarian, but without the glasses
files_by_extension = {
    ext: [file for file in os.listdir('.') if file.endswith(ext)]
    for ext in ['.jpg', '.txt', '.py', '.md']  # Add extensions as needed
}
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To move files based on their respective extension, shutil module steals the show:

import shutil

# Moving files like a chess grandmaster
for ext, files in files_by_extension.items():
    for file in files:
        shutil.move(file, f"destination_folder/{file}")
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And remember, always use exceptions to trap potential errors that may occur due to operations on "ghost" files or hidden "trap" folders:

try:
    # A ticking time bomb of a file operation
except OSError as e:
    print(f"Error: {e.strerror}")
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Keeping it simple

Maybe you want simplicity and do not want to have to import multiple modules:

from glob import glob

print(glob('*.py'))  # Lists all Python files in the current directory; doesn't make coffee, sorry
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Recursion control: Handle with care

The powerhouse function os.walk mimics the behavior of processing only files, but for recursive directory traversal. But with great power, comes great responsibility:

for root, dirs, files in os.walk('.', topdown=True):
    # 'dirs.clear()' acts like a door bouncer for directories
    dirs.clear()
    print(files)
    break  # Stops the iteration - not your Python script!
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This code curbs recursion by clearing the dirs list and breaking after the first loop iteration.