Python Nose Import Error

Question

I can\'t seem to get the nose testing framework to recognize modules beneath my test script in the file structure. I\'ve set up the simplest example that demonstrates the p

Answer 1

Just to complete the question: If you're struggling with structure like this:

project
├── m1
├    ├── __init__.py
├    ├── foo1.py
├    └──m2
├       ├── __init__.py
├       └── foo2.py
├
└── test
     ├── __init__.py
     └── test.py

And maybe you want to run test from a path outside the project, include your project path inside your PYTHONPATH.

export PYTHONPATH=$PYTHONPATH:$HOME/path/to/project

paste it inside your .profile. If you're under a virtual environment, paste it inside the activate in your venv root

Answer 2

To those of you finding this question later on: I get the import error if I don't have an __init__.py file in my tests directory.

My directory structure was like this:

./tests/
  ./test_some_random_stuff.py

If I ran nosetests:

nosetests -w tests

It would give the ImportError that everyone else is seeing. If I add a blank __init__.py file it works just fine:

./tests/
  ./__init__.py
  ./test_some_random_stuff.py

Answer 3

I just ran into one more thing that might cause this issue: naming of tests in the form testname.test.py. That extra . confounds nose and leads to it importing things it should not. I suppose it may be obvious that using unconventional test naming conventions will break things, but I thought it might be worth noting.