--- /dev/null	Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 1970 +0000
+++ b/python/resource_filename.py	Sat Mar 23 21:37:56 2013 -0700
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python
+
+# example code
+
+import os
+
+def resource_path(path):
+    """
+    getting a resource filename (absolute path)
+    - path: relative path
+    """
+
+    try:
+        # use pkg_resources if available
+        # http://pythonhosted.org/distribute/setuptools.html#non-package-data-files
+        from pkg_resources import Requirement, resource_filename
+        return resource_filename(Requirement.parse("MyProject"),path)
+    except ImportError:
+        # assume file lives relative to this file
+        here = os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(__file__))
+        return os.path.join(here, path)