[Python-Dev] PEP 328 - Relative Imports (original) (raw)
Shane Holloway (IEEE) shane.holloway at ieee.org
Sat Sep 11 08:25:38 CEST 2004
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M.-A. Lemburg wrote:
People are more likely going to make all imports absolute (like they already do in Java and other languages) - which is good, since it makes reading code much easier and allows for writing packages which are compatible to older Python version, but it also prevent developing applications using the above approach.
I also don't think that extension writers will care enough to make their packages fully relocateable by using relative imports all over - these are hard to read and don't buy the developer of the extension anything. Anyway, what should the strategy for the PEP look like ? 1. postpone the defaulting to absolute until P3k 2. provide a way to customize the behaviour using e.g. a sys function
As a package writer, I will go through the effort to write relative imports for a few reasons.
One is that I often don't know what the final layout of the larger package group will be; however, I am usually fairly certain about local dependencies. Having a way to refer to a parent package will enable me to be "complete" in this development style.
Second, it's really handy to develop something in the sandbox, and then move it to production in one fell swooop. BTW, will path work for relative parent references?
A third reason I will go through the effort to use relative imports is that I'd like to allow application frameworks (and other package writers) to "scoop up" any whole packages if they so desire.
Unfortunately, it'll be a while before I can target Python 2.4 directly. But it will be good when I can!
Thanks, -Shane Holloway
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