modified PYTHONPATH not recognized by Anaconda Spyder

Question

I use my .bash_profile to add a directory to PYTHONPATH

export PYTHONPATH="${PYTHONPATH}:/Users/selah/newdir"

In my Anaconda installation of Spyder the path I added does not show up when I type:

import sys
sys.paths

However when i do the same in Jupyter notebook, or terminal python it does show up.

Why the discrepancy? Is there a way to get Spyder to recognize my modified PYTHONPATH?

You need to start Spyder from the command line for your changes to be detected by Spyder. — Carlos Cordoba, Jul 14 '17 at 22:49

score 3 · Accepted Answer · answered Jul 14 '17 at 22:51

3

(Spyder developer here) You need to start Spyder from the command line for your changes to be detected by Spyder.

This is because Spyder doesn't have a way to read your environment variables when started in a graphical way.

answered Jul 14 '17 at 22:51

Carlos Cordoba

Is it possible to explain why Spyder can't read environmental variables when started in a graphical way? Just curious. – Selah Jul 26 '17 at 15:47
1

I think that's because variables that you define in your `.bash_profile` are not passed to applications that are not started using a shell. – Carlos Cordoba Jul 26 '17 at 17:41

score 2 · Answer 2 · answered Mar 09 '18 at 20:12

2

I had a similar problem. For future reference, resolved by adding path under menu “python > PYTHONPATH manager” option.

answered Mar 09 '18 at 20:12

jamalin

1

This worked for me, but only after I rebooted spyder. – Riet Mar 27 '20 at 19:29

2 Answers2