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pythondependenciescircular-dependencypython-import

Circular import dependency in Python

Let's say I have the following directory structure:

a\
    __init__.py
    b\
        __init__.py
        c\
            __init__.py
            c_file.py
        d\
            __init__.py
            d_file.py

In the a package's __init__.py, the c package is imported. But c_file.py imports a.b.d.

The program fails, saying b doesn't exist when c_file.py tries to import a.b.d. (And it really doesn't exist, because we were in the middle of importing it.)

How can this problem be remedied?

Solution

  • If a depends on c and c depends on a, aren't they actually the same unit then?

    You should really examine why you have split a and c into two packages, because either you have some code you should split off into another package (to make them both depend on that new package, but not each other), or you should merge them into one package.