Change environment variables before importlib.reload

Question

I have a c-extension that loads environment variables during static initialization. I need to be able to change these values and reload the module (I cannot change the fact that they are loaded statically). I tried setting os.environ, but there doesn't seem to be an env option in importlib like for subprocess.call

Here's an example: suppose I have a module defined as follows

#include <boost/python.hpp>
#include <cstdlib>
#include <string>
std::string get() {
    return ::getenv("HOME");
}

BOOST_PYTHON_MODULE(sample) {
    boost::python::def("get", &get);
}

And I have python code:

import importlib, os
import sample as s
print(s.get()) # prints /home/username

# do something like 
# os.environ['HOME'] = 'foo'
importlib.reload(s)
print(s.get()) # I would like this to print 'foo'

In other words, what can I do instead of os.environ['HOME'] = 'foo' to cause the environment variable to change in the c-module?

NOTE: I cannot use setenv because the variables are loaded statically and I am unable to reinitializes all the things that depend on them.

Answer 1

If I am not mistaken, the reason this does not work is not because the environment is not modified but because when you do importlib.reload(s) the c module is not actually re-initialized.

What you can do is put your calls to s in another process, and whenever you need to reload it create a new process.