Dropbox API not working on python script run but is working on interactive mode

Question

A simple check if the Dropbox API works, I have below dropbox.py script created

import dropbox

dbx = dropbox.Dropbox('MY_TOKEN')

dbx.users_get_current_account()

Running it in normal script mode using terminal, I have to use below command.

username$ python3 dropbox.py

This returns below error:

Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "dropbox.py", line 1, in <module>
    import dropbox

It works okay when using the interactive mode with below command

username$ python3
Python 3.6.4 (default, Jan  6 2018, 11:51:15) 
[GCC 4.2.1 Compatible Apple LLVM 9.0.0 (clang-900.0.39.2)] on darwin
Type "help", "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information.
>>> import dropbox
>>> dbx = dropbox.Dropbox('MY_TOKEN')
>>> dbx.users_get_current_account()
FullAccount displayed here successfully

Why is there a difference in interactive versus script mode? How to get the script mode working?

Answer 1

Probably, the issue is name clutch between your file dropbox.py and module.

When running dropbox.Dropbox , python tries to create instance of Dropbox class from your file (which is treated as module too), and you have no such.

The motivation behind this order of imports is ability to "override" pre-installed modules with your own.

TL;DR: renaming your file should help.