Using import random, using random.choice throws AttributeError

Question

So, I'm getting a really weird error. For some reason python is not importing random as the module, and seems to me to be importing it as a function (as seen here). Why is it doing this? Using import random and random.choice() works fine in other modules. Why not here?

update: Turns out I was defining random again in logic.py. I had forgot I did this since I wasn't using it anymore. Commented it out and it works fine.

Traceback:

Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "H:\workspace37\RockPaperScissors\irps\driver.py", line 20, in <module>
    print "%r" % dtree.root.get_value(history)
  File "H:\workspace37\RockPaperScissors\irps\datastructures.py", line 69, in get_value
    return self.operation(self.left.get_value(history), self.right.get_value(history))
  File "H:\workspace37\RockPaperScissors\irps\datastructures.py", line 69, in get_value
    return self.operation(self.left.get_value(history), self.right.get_value(history))
  File "H:\workspace37\RockPaperScissors\irps\logic.py", line 53, in either
    return random.choice((a, b))
AttributeError: 'function' object has no attribute 'choice'

I've tried to include the relevant bits of code.

logic.py:

import random 
#from random import choice # works if I change random.choice(...) to just choice(...)

ROCK = 'R'
PAPER = 'P'
SCISSORS = 'S'
RPS_TUPLE = (ROCK, PAPER, SCISSORS)
RPS_SET = set((ROCK, PAPER, SCISSORS))
PLAYER = 0
OPPONENT = 1
PLAYERS = (PLAYER, OPPONENT)

def assert_in_set(a, b):
    assert a in RPS_SET
    assert b in RPS_SET

def neither(a, b):
    assert_in_set(a, b)
    diff = RPS_SET.difference((a, b))
    print "diff = ", diff
    return random.choice(tuple(diff))

def either(a, b):
    assert_in_set(a, b)
    return random.choice((a, b)) #line 53

#EDITED TO INCLUDE THESE LINES FURTHER DOWN
def random(a, b):
    return random.choice(RPS_TUPLE)

ALL_OPERATORS = (neither, either)

datastructures.py

from collections import deque
from logic import RPS_TUPLE, ALL_OPERATORS, PLAYERS
import random
import sys

class OperationNode(TreeNode):

    def __init__(self, parent, left, right, operation):
        super(OperationNode, self).__init__(parent, left, right)
        self.operation = operation

    def get_value(self, history):
        return self.operation(self.left.get_value(history), self.right.get_value(history)) # line 69


class TerminalNode(TreeNode):

    def __init__(self, parent, player, position):
        super(TerminalNode, self).__init__(parent, None, None)
        self.player = player
        self.position = position

    def get_value(self, history):
        # history is a deque of tuples
        return history[self.position][self.player]

Have you saved the file correctly before rerunning it? Have you got from random import random anywhere? — user764357
– user764357, Commented Oct 30, 2013 at 4:46
Try printing random.__name__ right before the attribute error. That would at least tell you which function it thinks random is which might lead you to the actual problem elsewhere... — mgilson
– mgilson, Commented Oct 30, 2013 at 4:50
@falsetru random was defined later in the logic.py file. I had forgot I had done that since I wasn't using it anymore. This was the problem. edit: If you want to post this as an answer I'll accept it. — Tombstone
– Tombstone, Commented Oct 30, 2013 at 19:02

falsetru · Accepted Answer · 2013-10-31 01:47:57Z

1

Did you define random function in logic.py?

That could be a cause of a problem.

>>> def random():
...     pass
...
>>> random.choice
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "<stdin>", line 1, in <module>
AttributeError: 'function' object has no attribute 'choice'

answered Oct 31, 2013 at 1:47

falsetru

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