tools.py

import platform
import os

def isWindows():
    plat = platform.system()
    return (plat == 'Windows')

def isMac():
    plat = platform.system()
    return (plat == 'Darwin')

# check if a binary is available in the PATH
def which(program):
    def is_exe(fpath):
        return os.path.isfile(fpath) and os.access(fpath, os.X_OK)

    fpath, fname = os.path.split(program)
    if fpath:
        if is_exe(program):
            return program
    else:
        for path in os.environ['PATH'].split(os.pathsep):
            exe_file = os.path.join(path, program)
            if is_exe(exe_file):
                return exe_file

    return None

def split_list(alist, wanted_parts=1):
    length = len(alist)
    return [ alist[i*length // wanted_parts: (i+1)*length // wanted_parts]
             for i in range(wanted_parts) ]