Importing a Python package from a script with the same name

Question

I'm trying to re-organize my Python project by moving scripts from the package directory into a top level script directory. After these changes, this is what my project hierarchy looks like:

MyProject/
    setup.py

    scripts/
        my_package.py

    my_package/
        __init__.py
        module_foo.py

Notice how the script and the package have the same name.

The script my_package.py looks something like this:

# MyProject/scripts/my_package.py
import os
try:
    import my_package
    print os.path.abspath(my_package.__file__)
except ImportError as e:
    print e

When we run the above script the interpreter imports the current module rather than the package of the same name (note: the package my_package has already been installed into site-packages as an egg and our virtual environment is properly activated.)

How can I import the package my_package from the script my_package.py given they have the same name?

Other Technical Info:

Python 2.7.3
Ubuntu Server 12.04 LTS
VirtualEnv 1.11.6

Did you try add os.path.append("..") before calling import my_package — Valijon
– Valijon, Commented Jun 29, 2014 at 15:27
@furas is renaming the script really my only choice? Based on what I've read about the "absolute import" feature, the import syntax I used should work. — AlfaZulu
– AlfaZulu, Commented Jun 29, 2014 at 15:36
@AlfaZulu your my_package should be inside scripts to override path — Valijon
– Valijon, Commented Jun 29, 2014 at 15:42

User · Accepted Answer · 2014-06-29 17:17:53Z

1

For me it works with

sys.path.insert(0, '..')

since the import does something like for path in sys.path:.

answered Jun 29, 2014 at 17:17

User

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Community · Accepted Answer · 2017-05-23 12:02:04Z

1

You probably want to rename my_package.py, using the canonical name for the core script for a module: __main__.py, and put it back in your module directory. Then also arrange for the my_package executable to be automatically generated by defining an entry_point for it in your setup.py file. Python Apps the Right Way: entry points and scripts, by Chris Warrick covers this in some depth.

See also What is main.py? - Stack Overflow to see some of the other ways of calling my_package that this also sets up automatically, like python -m my_package.

edited May 23, 2017 at 12:02

CommunityBot

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answered Mar 28, 2017 at 19:28

nealmcb

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