Jython modules and packages

Jython is an implementation of the Python programming language written in Java. It allows you to run Python code on the Java Virtual Machine (JVM). One of the key features of Jython is its ability to seamlessly integrate with Java libraries and modules.

Modules in Jython

In Jython, a module is a file containing Python code that can be imported and used in other Python scripts. Like in CPython, Jython uses the .py file extension for modules. To import a module in Jython, you can use the import statement.

import mymodule

mymodule.my_function()

Jython looks for modules in the current working directory and in the sys.path list (which includes standard library locations and other directories specified by the PYTHONPATH environment variable). You can also add additional directories to sys.path at runtime.

Packages in Jython

In Python, packages are a way to organize related modules into a hierarchy. Jython supports packages just like CPython does. A package is simply a directory containing a special file called __init__.py. This file can be empty or can contain initialization code for the package.

To import a module from a package, you use the dot notation:

import mypackage.mymodule

mypackage.mymodule.my_function()

Jython follows the same naming conventions as CPython for package and module names. It uses the forward slash (/) as a separator for package names in import statements.

Using Java Libraries in Jython

One of the main advantages of Jython is its seamless integration with Java libraries. To use a Java library in Jython, you need to import the relevant Java classes just like you would in Java.

from java.util import ArrayList

my_list = ArrayList()
my_list.add("Hello")
my_list.add("World")

for item in my_list:
    print(item)

Jython provides a bridge that allows Python code to interact with Java objects and vice versa. This makes it easy to leverage existing Java libraries and frameworks in your Python code.

Conclusion

Jython provides a powerful way to run Python code on the JVM and take advantage of Java libraries. Modules and packages in Jython work similarly to their counterparts in CPython, allowing you to organize and reuse your code. The seamless integration with Java libraries opens up a wide range of possibilities for building applications in Jython.

#python #jython #javaintegration