Techniques for python path manipulation and relative imports in (i.e. when not dealing with a package).

Paths

import os

# To get the directory of the script/file:
current_dir = os.path.dirname(os.path.realpath(__file__))

# To get one directory up from the current file
parent_dir = os.path.abspath(os.path.join(current_dir, ".."))

Imports

For simple project structures:

import sys, os
sys.path.insert(1, os.path.join(sys.path[0], '..'))

When absolute paths are required:

import os,sys,inspect
currentdir = os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(inspect.getfile(inspect.currentframe())))
parentdir = os.path.dirname(currentdir)
sys.path.insert(0,parentdir)

Alternative to the above (good for multiple paths):

import sys, os
currentdir = os.path.dirname(__file__)
srcdirs = ['../../path1', '../path2']

for src in srcdirs:
  sys.path.insert(0, os.path.abspath(os.path.join(currentdir, src)))

justinmklam/python-paths-and-imports.md

Paths

Imports