Is it possible to utilize a python module that isnt installed into the python directories in linux?

Question

I have a python application that depends on the uuid module, but on the server where I need to run it, uuid is not installed. I do not have root on the server so I cannot place the uuid .pys in the /usr/lib/python2.4/site-packages folder... is there a way that I can utilize the .py's from elsewhere? like my ~ ?

Answer 1

There are several ways to do this. The fastest is the simple command:

export PYTHONPATH=path/to/module/directory

Alternatively, you can use virtualenv. Just sudo apt-get install python-virtualenv (?). It's a very common development tool used for using modules that you don't necessarily want installed in your local Python installation.