CODEWITHSUNDEEP
pythonflask
ankur singh
ankur singh

Reputation: 103

relative imports in python in flask app

I have read numerous SO questions and blogs. I am trying to structure my flask application. The current structure of my application is the following: 

application
    run_server.py
    /config
       __init__.py
       production.py
       staging.py
       development.py
    /app
       __init__.py
       /site
           __init__.py
           views.py

Now, inside app/__init__.py I want to access the config based on my environment( dev, staging, production).

from ..config import config

I am getting this error:

ValueError: Attempted relative import beyond toplevel package

I have tried using -m switch. I have also tried to set PYTHONPATH as my root directory to tell interpreter what is top level package. I think I am missing some fundamental in relative imports.

Upvotes: 3

Views: 8064

Answers (3)

Aashish P
Aashish P

Reputation: 1956

If you are running your application through run_server.py then there is no need of relative import in app/__init__.py. You can simply say, 

from config import <production/staging/development>

This is because, when your interpreter interprets run_server.py, at the line say, from app import <something>, it will fetch app/__init__.py content and try to execute them at toplevel i.e. from directory application.

Now, assume you are running from ..config import config at toplevel. Obviously, it will throw an error.

Upvotes: 3

Okezie
Okezie

Reputation: 5108

Try using absolute import. IMHO it makes things easier to grok

from __future__ import absolute_import
from application.config import production

This is absolute because you are specifying the exact path you are importing from which reduces ambiguity.

Also, you are missing __init__.py in the application folder

Upvotes: 4

damnever
damnever

Reputation: 14737

Assume you have configin application/config/__init__.py.

You also need __init__.py under application directory, if not, then the application/app is your top level package, you can not access application/config.

Upvotes: 1

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