[Python-Dev] Writing importers and path hooks (original) (raw)

Brett Cannon brett at python.org
Thu Mar 28 14:42:08 CET 2013

On Wed, Mar 27, 2013 at 6:59 PM, Paul Moore <p.f.moore at gmail.com> wrote:

On 27 March 2013 21:19, Bradley M. Froehle <brad.froehle at gmail.com> wrote: > I implemented just such a path hook ---- zipimporter plus the magic required > for C extensions --- as a challenge to myself to learn more about the Python > import mechanisms. > > See https://github.com/bfroehle/pydzipimport.

Apologies for hijacking the thread, but it's interesting that you implemented your hook like this. I notice that you didn't use any of the importlib functionality in doing so. Was there a particular reason? I ask because a few days ago, I was writing a very similar importer, as I wanted to try a proof of concept importer based on the new importlib stuff (which is intended to make writing custom importers easier), and I really struggled to get something working.

Struggling how? With the finder? The loader? What exactly were you trying to accomplish and how were you deviating from the standard import system?

It seems to me that the importlib documentation doesn't help much for people trying to import path hooks.

There is a bug to clarify the docs to have more geared towards writing new importers instead of just documenting what's available: http://bugs.python.org/issue15867

But it might be just me. Does anyone have an example of a simple importlib-based finder/loader?

Define simple. =) I would argue importlib itself is easy enough to read.

That would be a huge help for me. In return for any pointers, I'll look at putting together a doc patch to clarify how to use importlib to build your own path hooks :-)

Do you specifically mean the path hook aspect or the whole package of hook, finder, and loader? -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: <http://mail.python.org/pipermail/python-dev/attachments/20130328/61590229/attachment.html>

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