IPython/Extensions/ipy_workdir.py

#!/usr/bin/env python

import IPython.ipapi
ip = IPython.ipapi.get()

import os

workdir = None
def workdir_f(line):
    global workdir
    dummy,cmd  = line.split(None,1)
    if os.path.isdir(cmd):
        workdir = cmd
        print "Set workdir",workdir
    elif workdir is None:
        print "Please set workdir first by doing e.g. 'workdir q:/'"
    else:
        print "Execute command in",workdir
        cwd = os.getcwd()
        os.chdir(workdir)
        try:
            ip.runlines(cmd)
        finally:
            os.chdir(cwd)

ip.defalias("workdir",workdir_f)