diff --git a/Lib/newimp.py b/Lib/newimp.py index 614ce941e29..e671de8ba2b 100755 --- a/Lib/newimp.py +++ b/Lib/newimp.py @@ -25,39 +25,53 @@ can be used to: path using a '.' dot-delimited nesting syntax. The nesting is fully recursive. - - import an entire package as a unit, by importing the package directory. - If there is a module named '__main__.py' in the package, it controls the - load. Otherwise, all the modules in the dir, including packages, are - inherently loaded into the package module's namespace. - - __main__.py can load the entire directory, by loading the package - itself, via eg 'import __', or even 'from __ import *'. The benefit - is (1) the ability to do additional things before and after the loads - of the other modules, and (2) the ability to populate the package - module with the *contents* of the component modules, ie with a - 'from __ import *'.) + For example, 'import test.test_types' will import the test_types + module within the 'test' package. The calling environment would + then access the module as 'test.test_types', which is the name of + the fully-loaded 'test_types' module. It is found contained within + the stub (ie, only partially loaded) 'test' module, hence accessed as + 'test.test_types'. - import siblings from modules within a package, using '__.' as a shorthand prefix to refer to the parent package. This enables referential transparency - package modules need not know their package name. - - The '__' package references are actually names assigned within + The '__' package references are actually names assigned within modules, to refer to their containing package. This means that - variable references can be made to imported modules, or variables - defined via 'import ... from' of the modules, also using the '__.var' - shorthand notation. This establishes an proper equivalence between - the import reference '__.sibling' and the var reference '__.sibling'. + variable references can be made to imported modules, or to variables + defined via 'import ... from', also using the '__.var' shorthand + notation. This establishes a proper equivalence between the import + reference '__.sibling' and the var reference '__.sibling'. -Modules have a few new attributes, in support of packages. As -mentioned above, '__' is a shorthand attribute denoting the -modules' parent package, also denoted in the module by -'__package__'. Additionally, modules have associated with them a -'__pkgpath__', a path by which sibling modules are found.""" + - import an entire package as a unit, by importing the package directory. + If there is a module named '__main__.py' in the package, it controls the + load. Otherwise, all the modules in the dir, including packages, are + inherently loaded into the package module's namespace. + + For example, 'import test' will load the modules of the entire 'test' + package, at least until a test failure is encountered. + + In a package, a module with the name '__main__' has a special role. + If present in a package directory, then it is loaded into the package + module, instead of loading the contents of the directory. This + enables the __main__ module to control the load, possibly loading + the entire directory deliberately (using 'import __', or even + 'from __ import *', to load all the module contents directly into the + package module). + + - perform any combination of the above - have a package that contains + packages, etc. + +Modules have a few new attributes in support of packages. As mentioned +above, '__' is a shorthand attribute denoting the modules' parent package, +also denoted in the module by '__package__'. Additionally, modules have +associated with them a '__pkgpath__', a path by which sibling modules are +found.""" __version__ = "$Revision$" -# $Id$ -# First release: Ken.Manheimer@nist.gov, 5-Apr-1995, for python 1.2 +# $Id$ First release: +# Ken.Manheimer@nist.gov, 5-Apr-1995, for python 1.2 # Developers Notes: # @@ -114,10 +128,10 @@ def install(): """Install newimp import_module() routine, for package support. newimp.revert() reverts to __import__ routine that was superceded.""" + import __builtin__ global origImportFunc if not origImportFunc: try: - import __builtin__ origImportFunc = __builtin__.__import__ except AttributeError: pass @@ -716,7 +730,7 @@ def exterior(): # TESTING FACILITIES # def note(msg, threshold=1): - if VERBOSE >= threshold: print '(import:', msg, ')' + if VERBOSE >= threshold: sys.stderr.write('(import: ' + msg + ')\n') class TestDirHier: """Populate a transient directory hierarchy according to a definition