Why importing with ipython3 or sudo python3 is different?

Question

I'm trying to use CircuitPython lib but got some troubles, I put the files from the Circuitpython bundle in /lib

• this works

  $ ipython3
  Python 3.7.3, blabla info
  >> import sys
  >> sys.path.append("/lib/adafruit_hid")
  >> import adafruit_hid
  

• this works too

  $ python3
  Python 3.7.3, same blabla info
  >> import sys
  >> sys.path.append("/lib/adafruit_hid")
  >> import adafruit_hid
  

• this doesn't

  $ sudo python3
  Python 3.7.3, same blabla info
  >> import sys
  >> sys.path.append("/lib/adafruit_hid")
  >> import adafruit_hid
  ModuleNotFoundError: No module named 'adafruit_hid'
  

And as the script needs to run as root I'm stuck

Answer 1

I believe this question is related to the one found here:

https://superuser.com/questions/600349/why-sudo-python-and-python-in-terminal-start-two-different-versions-python/600350

In essence, it's running different versions of python under sudo. This may mean it cannot run the library correctly.

Edit:
This may also be related to Cannot run Python script using sudo. (Try running with the -E flag.)

By default sudo runs commands in different environment. You can ask sudo to preserve environment with -E switch.

sudo -E python myScriptName.py

It comes with it's own security risks. So be careful