Python: How to import other Python files

原文地址：http://stackoverflow.com/questions/2349991/python-how-to-import-other-python-files/20749411#20749411

There are many ways to import a python file, all with their pros and cons.

Don’t just hastily pick the first import strategy that works for you or else you’ll have to rewrite the codebase later on when you find it doesn’t meet your needs.

I’ll start out explaining the easiest example #1, then I’ll move toward the most professional and robust example #5

Example 1, Import a python module with python interpreter:

Put this in /home/el/foo/fox.py:
def what_does_the_fox_say():
print(“vixens cry”)
Get into the python interpreter:

el@apollo:/home/el/foo$ python
Python 2.7.3 (default, Sep 26 2013, 20:03:06)

import fox
fox.what_does_the_fox_say()
vixens cry

You imported fox through the python interpreter, invoked the python function what_does_the_fox_say() from within fox.py.
Example 2, Use execfile or (exec in Python 3) in a script to execute the other python file in place:

Put this in /home/el/foo2/mylib.py:
def moobar():
print(“hi”)
Put this in /home/el/foo2/main.py:
execfile(“/home/el/foo2/mylib.py”)
moobar()
run the file:

el@apollo:/home/el/foo$ python main.py
hi
The function moobar was imported from mylib.py and made available in main.py
Example 3, Use from … import … functionality:

Put this in /home/el/foo3/chekov.py:
def question():
print “where are the nuclear wessels?”
Put this in /home/el/foo3/main.py:
from chekov import question
question()
Run it like this:

el@apollo:/home/el/foo3$ python main.py
where are the nuclear wessels?
If you defined other functions in chekov.py, they would not be available unless you import *
Example 4, Import riaa.py if it’s in a different file location from where it is imported

Put this in /home/el/foo4/stuff/riaa.py:
def watchout():
print “my message”
Put this in /home/el/foo4/main.py:
import sys
import os
sys.path.append(os.path.abspath(“/home/el/foo4/stuff”))
from riaa import *

watchout()
Run it:

el@apollo:/home/el/foo4$ python main.py
my message
That imports everything in the foreign file from a different directory.
Example 5, Import files in python with the bare import command:

Make a new directory /home/el/foo5/
Make a new directory /home/el/foo5/herp
Make an empty file named init.py under herp:
el@apollo:/home/el/foo5/herp$ touch init.py
el@apollo:/home/el/foo5/herp$ ls
init.py
Make a new directory /home/el/foo5/herp/derp
Under derp, make another init.py file:
el@apollo:/home/el/foo5/herp/derp$ touch init.py
el@apollo:/home/el/foo5/herp/derp$ ls
init.py
Under /home/el/foo5/herp/derp make a new file called yolo.py Put this in there:
def skycake():
print “SkyCake evolves to stay just beyond the cognitive reach of ” +
“the bulk of men. SKYCAKE!!”
The moment of truth, Make the new file /home/el/foo5/main.py, put this in there;
from herp.derp.yolo import skycake
skycake()
Run it:

el@apollo:/home/el/foo5$ python main.py
SkyCake evolves to stay just beyond the cognitive reach of the bulk
of men. SKYCAKE!!
The empty init.py file communicates to the python interpreter that the developer intends this directory to be an importable package.
If you want to see my post on how to include ALL .py files under a directory see here: http://stackoverflow.com/a/20753073/445131

Example 6, use os.system(“python yourfile.py”)

import os
os.system(“python yourfile.py”)
Bonus protip

whether you are using Mac, Linux or Windows, you need to be using python’s idle editor as described here. It will unlock your python world. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DkW5CSZ_VII