[Python-Dev] Importing top-level modules (original) (raw)

Guido van Rossum guido@python.org
Tue, 16 Apr 2002 18:37:07 -0400

I had a problem yesterday where I wanted to extend a top-level module by a module in a subpackage. I naively named my module the same as the toplevel module, and peer import bit me. I finally had to rename my module for no good reason to get things working.

You did the right thing, for a good reason.

So my question is: is there an easy way to force a top-level import (adress the top-level namespace), that I overlooked?

No.

If not, what do you think of a

from top import systemmodule similar to from future ... An alternative syntax would be "import .systemmodule", but that seems obscure.

I'm not keen on this. I'd rather deprecate relative imports -- they cause more trouble than they're worth.

--Guido van Rossum (home page: http://www.python.org/~guido/)