Import error running unittest in Python3

Question

I have a problem importing files in Python 3.6. My directories tree is as given below:

project/
    app/
    ├── __init__.py
    ├── a.py
    └── b.py
    test/
    ├── __init__.py
    ├── test_a.py
    └── test_b.py

It works my application (but, no works the tests) using following import statement in b.py:

from a import *

But, it does not work my application (but, works the tests) using this other in b.py:

from .a import *

So, I choose from a import *. Executing test like python3 -m unittest I always get following error:

E.
======================================================================
ERROR: tests.test_cell (unittest.loader._FailedTest)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
ImportError: Failed to import test module: tests.test_cell
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/usr/local/Cellar/python3/3.6.1/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/3.6/lib/python3.6/unittest/loader.py", line 428, in _find_test_path
    module = self._get_module_from_name(name)
  File "/usr/local/Cellar/python3/3.6.1/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/3.6/lib/python3.6/unittest/loader.py", line 369, in _get_module_from_name
    __import__(name)
  File "/Users/serrodcal/Repositories/project/tests/test_b.py", line 2, in <module>
    from app.b import *
  File "/Users/serrodcal/Repositories/project/app/b.py", line 1, in <module>
    from a import *
ModuleNotFoundError: No module named 'a'


----------------------------------------------------------------------
Ran 2 tests in 0.001s

FAILED (errors=1)

In this case, my import statement in test_b.py is as given below:

from unittest import TestCase
from app.cell import *

Is there any way to fix this problem?

I think it's easier for you to share the repository. There you can see all the information because in this post I do not pretend to show my specific case. — Sergio Rodríguez Calvo
– Sergio Rodríguez Calvo, Commented Jun 2, 2017 at 6:45
Regarding your question, __init__.py is empty, like many example that I could see. — Sergio Rodríguez Calvo
– Sergio Rodríguez Calvo, Commented Jun 2, 2017 at 6:46
psst, please check out pytest, it resembles idiomatic Python rather than re-using Java patterns and there's a fat chance you'll enjoy it much more — Kos
– Kos, Commented Jun 2, 2017 at 9:04
Yep, that is more Pythonic but unittest is included and I do not want to import more libraries. — Sergio Rodríguez Calvo
– Sergio Rodríguez Calvo, Commented Jun 2, 2017 at 10:38

Community · Accepted Answer · 2025-07-25 14:57:48Z

4

I was confused with imports in Python and how python works with modules.

project/
    module/
        __init__.py
        a.py
        b.py
    test/
        test_a.py
        test_b.py
    main.py

This is my new directories tree. The contains of the files are:

In main.py:

from module.b import Something

In b.py:

from .a import Something

In test_a.py:

from unittest import TestCase
from module.a import Something

In test_b.py:

from unittest import TestCase
from module.a import Something
from module.b import Something

Like this, it works fine, application and tests.

edited Jul 25 at 14:57

CommunityBot

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answered Jun 2, 2017 at 8:59

Sergio Rodríguez Calvo

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3 Comments

dagrun Over a year ago

Why should the structure be like this?

dbustosp Over a year ago

I think you wanted to say: 'In test_a.py' instead of 'In a.py'.

dbustosp Over a year ago

It is also important to mention that 'module' must be installed in site-packages. Otherwise, you will have to add it to sys.path.

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