controller.py

from flask import Flask, request
import os
from os.path import expanduser

app = Flask(__name__)

def expand(path):
    if path.startswith('~'):
        path = path[1:]
        path = expanduser("~") + path
    return path

@app.route("/fetch")
def fetch_shows():
    dir = request.args.get('directory')
    dir = expand(dir)
    dirs = filter(lambda x: not x.startswith('.'), os.listdir(dir))
    return str(list(dirs))

@app.route("/open")
def open():
    file = request.args.get('file')
    file = expand(file)
    # os.startfile(file)
    os.system('open %s' % file)
    return "{\"result\": \"OK\"}"