it's not fully correct function

[Alexey T.]

def collapse_path(path):
    if path.startswith(USER_DIR):
        path = path.replace(USER_DIR, '~', 1)
    return path

for name like /home/user2/test' it gives ~2/test`
:)

[Alexey T.]

need
if (path+'/').startswith(USER_DIR+'/'):

[halfbrained]

Dont leave Windows behind :)
(path + os.sep).startswith(USER_DIR + os.sep)

fixed