Import confusion

[Fredrik Lundh]

Kristian Ovaska wrote:
> From your document:
> "from X import * imports the module X, and _creates references_ in the
> current name space to all public symbols defined by that module"
>
> I underlined the part that confuses me. m1.x should be a reference to
> m2.x, no?

no, it's a reference to the *object* pointed to by m2.x, at the time
from-import was executed.  your setX function changes what m2.x
refers to, not the object.  m1 won't notice.

for more info on the difference between names and objects, see:

    http://effbot.org/guides/python-objects.htm

and the recent "changing global variables" thread.

if it's still not clear, remember the fourth from-import rule: don't
use from-import unless you know exactly what you're doing ;-)

Cheers /F

<!-- (the eff-bot guide to) the standard python library:
http://www.pythonware.com/people/fredrik/librarybook.htm
-->