Cannot Import Name: Solution to Circular Dependency (Python)

May 27, 2019

python

Example of Circular Dependency

test_circular.py

from main import NAMEdef printName():    print(NAME)

main.py

NAME = 'Hello'from test_circular import print_nameif __name__ == '__main__':    print_name()

Test

python main.py

ImportError: cannot import name 'print_name' from 'test_circular' (/test_circular.py)

The problem is resolved then dependency on main is removed from test_circular.py.

Solution 1

Edit test_circular.py

def print_name():    from main import NAME    print(NAME)

Solution 2

Edit main.py

NAME = 'Hello'from test_circular import *if __name__ == '__main__':    print_name()

NOTE: Downside is importing everything from test_circular.py

Solution 3

Edit main.py

NAME = 'Hello'import test_circular# This would not work# print_name = test_circular.print_nameif __name__ == '__main__':    print_name = test_circular.print_name    print_name()

Solution 4

Move NAME = 'Hello' into settings.py

Edit test_circular.py

from settings import NAMEdef print_name():    print(NAME)

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