python - Import file from parent directory?

Question

I have the following directory structure:

application
    tests
        main.py
    main.py

application/main.py contains some functions.

tests/main.py will contain my tests for these functions but I can't import the top level main.py. I get the following error:

ImportError: Import by filename is not supported.

I am attempting to import using the following syntax:

import main

What am I doing wrong?

Answer 1

If you'd like your script to be more portable, consider finding the parent directory automatically:

import os, sys
sys.path.append(os.path.dirname(os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(__file__))))
# import ../db.py
import db