How to change the name or alias a python module

Question

I am using a python app, via django, that requires Pillow, and I have installed it via pip. However, when the framework loads it complains that Pillow is not installed. I can verify this when trying import pillow fails.

If I look at the directory that contains the python modules I see there is no "pillow", but there is "PIL". I understand that pillow is a fork of PIL, and I can import PIL (PIL appears in a list of modules within python >>> help() >>> modules).

Without touching the framework, is there a way to convince the app/django that PIL == pillow. I tried import PIL as pillow in a settings file, but that didn't solve the problem.

Thanks

Answer 1

The answer is in your question:

>>> import PIL as pillow
>>> pillow
<module 'PIL' from '/opt/anaconda3/lib/python3.7/site-packages/PIL/__init__.py'>

Note that you need to add the import line in the module you plan to use it.

Answer 2

Maybe if you put this in your startup code it would work.

import sys
import PIL
sys.modules["pillow"] = PIL