Module Import Systems

Comments discuss the design, problems, and features of module import mechanisms in programming languages like Python, including dynamic loading, lazy imports, runtime execution, side effects, and comparisons across languages.

➡️ Stable 0.6x Programming Languages
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Keywords

e.g PHP foo.l lang.org index.js CL i.e setup.py importer.py foo.py import imports module modules py python importing cl imported code

Sample Comments

necovek Jul 19, 2023 View on HN

Module imports (eg in Python) are another example.

ofrzeta Feb 22, 2020 View on HN

What's the point of not importing a library/module? It's not like cheating or something.

WalterBright Jan 31, 2024 View on HN

ImportC has a functioning module system! It's a consequence of it being built alongside a D compiler.

paulddraper Jul 25, 2021 View on HN

What import system does not have these problems?

merb Jun 18, 2015 View on HN

i dislike the import part. without writing the from part first you can't evaluate the import..

andrewstuart Aug 28, 2021 View on HN

You miss the point - note the dynamic module loading of imports.

frollogaston Aug 14, 2025 View on HN

Even the way you import packages is kinda wack

rcarmo Dec 4, 2014 View on HN

You don't need to translate it -- you can import modules both ways just fine -- THAT's the killer feature.

Kichererbsen Feb 9, 2023 View on HN

importing is a _runtime_ operation: unless previously imported, the interpreter will go and import that module, executing that modules code. that can take a while. it will also bind a name in the current scope to the modules name, so... that might be considered pollution?

krzat Nov 20, 2019 View on HN

It's 2019 and people are still using languages where order of imports matters...