csv_sort.py

#!/usr/bin/python

import argparse
import csv
import sys

parser = argparse.ArgumentParser()
parser.add_argument("input", type=argparse.FileType("r"))
parser.add_argument("-o", "--output", type=argparse.FileType("w"), default=None)
parser.add_argument("-i", "--in-place", action="store_true")
args = parser.parse_args()

fin = args.input
fout = args.output

with fin:
    r = csv.reader(fin)
    fieldnames = r.next()
    rows = [row for row in r]
rows = sorted(rows)

if args.in_place:
    assert fout is None
    assert fin != sys.stdin
    fout = open(fin.name, 'w')
else:
    fout = sys.stdout

with fout:
    w = csv.writer(fout, quoting=csv.QUOTE_ALL)
    w.writerow(fieldnames)
    for row in rows:
        w.writerow(row)