Python's import statement has been a powerful feature since the first release, and only gotten better with age. Understanding how imports work under the hood will let you take advantage of that power.

A big key to customizing Python's imports is the importers introduced by PEP 302. That's a tool that you want in your belt! We'll be covering such import hooks as well as a couple other customization methods.

Talk Outline

1. introduction and overview (2 min)
2. under the hood (5 min)
   • import syntax
   • builtins.import
   • PEP 302
   • import state
3. customizing Python (5 min)
4. examples in the wild (5 min)
5. 2 "walk-through" examples (5 min)
   • trying out new Python syntax
   • stat-averse imports
6. 5 "flavor" examples (5 min)
   • descriptors for module objects
   • circumventing gotchas
   • sneaking directives into import names
   • managing multiple import hooks
   • context manager for sys.path
7. "lightning" examples (5 min)
   • quick look at a bunch of working examples of cool stuff you can do with imports
   • here's a sample:
   • post-import hooks
   • a python preprocessor
   • naive macros and inline functions
   • packages win noisily
   • lazy imports
8. conclusion

Supplemental Information

I have a lot more information at my Python Imports reference page.