Ideal Way to Create a Python "Library"

Question

I want to create a "library" of Python modules which I will be able to access from several separate project folders.

For example, I want the Python scripts in /proj1/ and /proj2/ to have access to /lib/.

/lib/help.py
/lib/more_help.py

/proj1/script.py
/proj1/script2.py

/proj2/this_script.py
/proj2/another_script.py

I don't want a single directory with all the Python scripts, as this seems rather disorganized. I also definitely don't want to copy the same /lib/ script into each of the different projects.

What is the ideal way to handle this in Python? Is it appending to Python's path? Or is this more of a hack? This seems to have the disadvantage of making the files less portable. Or is it this question/answer about using relative paths? Or something else?

I should add that I'm interested in Python 2.x rather than 3.x, if it matters.

Answer 1

Turn lib/ into a package, then put it in one of the directories in sys.path (or add a new entry). You can then import e.g. lib.help into your projects.

Answer 2

Follow the standard road that everyone takes: make your code a proper Python package with a proper setup.py. The benefits are: easy_install'able, easy distributable, easy generation of command line script (through console_scripts entry point) etc....