Python: Referencing another project

Question

I want to be able to run my Python project from the command line. I am referencing other projects, so I need to be able run modules in other folders.

One method of making this work would be to modify the Pythonpath environment variable, but I think this is an abuse. Another hack would be to copy all the files I want into a single directory and then run Python. Is there a better method of doing this?

Note: I am actually programming in Eclipse, but I want to be able to run the program remotely.

Similar questions:

• Referencing another project: This question is basically asking how to import

Answer 1

If you import sys, it contains a list of the directories in PYTHONPATH as sys.path

Adding directories to this list (sys.path.append("my/path")) allows you to import from those locations in the current module as normal without changing the global settings on your system.

Answer 2

Take a look at tools like

1. virtualenv, to set up a virtual python, in which you can install your modules without getting them globally. http://pypi.python.org/pypi/virtualenv

2. Setuptools, which allows you to specify (and automatically install) dependencies for your modules. http://pypi.python.org/pypi/setuptools (If you have problems with setuptools, take a look at Distribute, a maintained fork. http://pypi.python.org/pypi/distribute )

3. Buildout, which allows you deploy a complete application environment, including third-party software such as MySQL or anything else. http://pypi.python.org/pypi/zc.buildout/