Python JSON module has no attribute 'dumps'

Question

I am running Python 2.7 (x64 Linux) and trying to convert a dict to a JSON object.

>>> import sys
>>> sys.version_info
sys.ver         


        

Answer 1

How to reproduce this python error:

AttributeError: 'module' object has no attribute 'dumps'

You probably created a file called json.py that was reachable from python's sys.path. Or you added a directory to your python's sys.path that included a file called json.py.

Option 1: Poison the well by importing json, then importing another module with the same alias:

eric@dev /var/www/sandbox/eric $ python

>>> import json

>>> json.dumps([])
'[]'

>>> import sys as json

>>> json.dumps([])

Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "", line 1, in 
AttributeError: 'module' object has no attribute 'dumps'

Option 2: Poison the well by creating a file called json.py in the python path:

Create a new file json.py, save it. Put this code in there:

def foo():
  print "bar"

Open the python terminal and import json:

eric@dev /var/www/sandbox/eric/wsgi $ python
>>> import json

>>> type(json)


>>> json.dumps([])
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "", line 1, in 
AttributeError: 'module' object has no attribute 'dumps'

>>> json.foo()
bar

It's telling you your method isn't there. So ask python to tell you more about the nature of this module and you'll find clues as to who poisoned it.

>>> print json

>>> dir(json)
['__builtins__', '__doc__', '__file__', '__name__', '__package__', 'foo']
>>> type(json)