Correct way to import from a standalone module in a different location

[chowder]

Hello everyone.

I have the following setup:

• 3 separate AWS Lambda functions, written in Python
  
• A small Flask app to test and run the lambda functions locally
  

The 3 Lambda functions are standalone modules with their requirements pip installed in their folders.
The Flask app is a single app.py file.

Here is the directory structure.

Output:
└── MyProject
    ├── lambda1
        ..folders of libraries like lxml, requests etc...
        ├── handler.py
        └── __init__.py
    ├── lambda2
        ..folders of libraries like lxml, requests etc...
        ├── handler.py
        └── __init__.py
    ├── lambda3
        ..folders of libraries like lxml, requests etc...
        ├── handler.py
        └── __init__.py
    ├── app.py
    └── __init__.py

I am trying to import a function from each lambda file, to be used in the Flask app. I do it like so:

from lambda1.handler import some_function

In each lambda file I have an import statement like:

from some_file import something #  This is inside the lambda folder

Whenever I try to run the Flask app I get the following error:

Error:
  File "../lambda1/handler.py", line 7, in <module>
    from some_file import something
ModuleNotFoundError: No module named 'some_file'

The question is: How can I import a function from a standalone, separate module I am working on?

Thanks

---

I think I just solved this myself...
I had to change the import to:

from .some_file import something #  This is inside the lambda folder

I spent so much time trying different things! So simple at the end.

[wavic]

import sys
sys.path.append("/the_path_to_your_module/")

[chowder]

As I mentioned above in the Edit I changed the import to have a "." in the beginning. This fixed the Flask app.
The problem now is that if I want to run the lambda separately I get the following error:

Error:
ModuleNotFoundError: No module named '__main__.some_file'; '__main__' is not a package

I have an __init__.py in each Lambda folder.

---

@wavic, your suggestion worked. I did this for all 3 lambda folders.

[Larz60+]

you need a top level __init__.py module, which has to be populated with the data structure of dependencies.
It will look a lot like your ' Here is the directory structure. '
ex (partial):

MyProject/
    lambda1/
        handler.py
        ...
    lambda2/
    ...