How to import module from parent directory without sys.path?

Question

I am trying to call a module from a parent package.

My project structure -

be/
  __init__.py
  api/
    __init__.py
    models.py
  alembic/
    env.py

How to call models.py inside env.py

I tried like below,

from api.models import Base

I get the error - ImportError: No module named 'api'

I thought of restructuring by putting the alembic directory inside api directory, still not able to import models.

Using sys.path looks hacky, if I should change the project structure, then please suggest.

Possible duplicate of [Importing modules from parent folder](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/714063/importing-modules-from-parent-folder) — vahdet, Sep 27 '19 at 13:14
@vahdet - in this answer they are using `sys.path` which i want to avoid or `..` which is not supported in `python3.6` — Ejaz, Sep 27 '19 at 13:16
Try `from be.api.models import Base` or `from ..api.models import Base` — geckos, Sep 27 '19 at 13:23
I tried this - `from be.api.models import Base`, but it says `ImportError: No module named 'be'` — Ejaz, Sep 27 '19 at 13:28
@Ejaz it is because you haven't export `PYTHONPATH` to `be`, you can check my answer — meTchaikovsky, Sep 27 '19 at 13:30

score 3 · Answer 1 · answered Sep 27 '19 at 13:28

You can use relative import

inside env.py, you only need from ..api.models import Base

If you don't want to use relative import, you can also try absolute import like

from be.api.models import Base

provided that you have exported the PYTHONPATH to be by

path_to_be=''
export PYTHONPATH=$path_to_be:$PATH

score 1 · Answer 2 · answered Sep 27 '19 at 13:28

Some suggetions:

1.) Just accept it and modify sys.path ;-)

2.) make sure the environment variable PYTHONPATH points to the parent directory (be) and call your script only then

Example:

export PYTHONPATH=/absolute/path/to/be

3.) add an __init__.py file into the directory alembic and call your script from the be direcrory with. python -m alembic.env

4.) add the __init__.py like for 3.) and a small wrapper script to the be directory and call that script from be this script will then import alembic.env and call it's 'main' function.

Don't hesitate to contact me if my suggestions aren't clear enough.

I don't know your context but I often prefer 3.) and 4.) as nobody has to know about environment variables or sys path changes.

or just move env.py to the `be` directory – gelonida Sep 27 '19 at 15:17 — gelonida, Sep 27 '19 at 15:17

How to import module from parent directory without sys.path?

2 Answers2

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