Overriding a python module

Question

Is it possible to override a module with a class ?

Let me explain,

Here is the filesystem

foo
|-- bar
| |-- __init__.py
| |-- config.py
|-- __init__.py

Is it possible to override config.py from foo.bar.__init__.py so that whenever someone imports foo.bar.config they are importing overriden config instead of the version from config.py ?

If yes how do I do it ?

Ps: I will be overriding config.py based on certain conditions.

• chepner: If you can modify foo/bar/__init__.py, why can't you simply update foo/bar/config.py?

Answer 1

Just define a class in foo/bar/__init__.py with the name config and that will be imported. But why don't you just change the config.py?

In [4]: !ls foo
__init__.py bar/
In [5]: !ls foo/bar
__init__.py config.py
In [6]: !cat foo/bar/__init__.py
class config(object):
 pass
In [7]: from foo.bar import config 
In [8]: type(config)
Out[8]: type
$ echo "" > foo/bar/__init__.py
$ ipython
In [1]: from foo.bar import config 
In [2]: type(config)
Out[2]: module