Import errors with loo long entry in sys.path or PYTHONPATH in Windows
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3.12
3.13
3.14
OS-windows
type-bug
- Dominant language
- Python
- Stars
- 77.2k
- Forks
- 35.9k
- PR merge metrics
- PR metrics pending
Description
Bug report
Bug description:
Having too long entries in sys.path or PYTHONPATH in Windows will cause different errors in imports. This was first reported on #122170, where there is some useful discussion.
> $Env:PYTHONPATH="a" * 33000
> py -3.13
Exception ignored in running getpath:
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "<frozen getpath>", line 668, in <module>
OSError: failed to make path absolute
Fatal Python error: error evaluating path
Python runtime state: core initialized
Current thread 0x00005a8c (most recent call first):
<no Python frame>
>>> import sys
>>> sys.path.insert(0, "a" * 33000)
>>> import email
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "<frozen importlib._bootstrap_external>", line 1512, in _path_importer_cache
KeyError: 'aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa[...]aaaaaaaaaa'
During handling of the above exception, another exception occurred:
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "<python-input-6>", line 1, in <module>
import email
File "<frozen importlib._bootstrap>", line 1360, in _find_and_load
File "<frozen importlib._bootstrap>", line 1322, in _find_and_load_unlocked
File "<frozen importlib._bootstrap>", line 1262, in _find_spec
File "<frozen importlib._bootstrap_external>", line 1555, in find_spec
File "<frozen importlib._bootstrap_external>", line 1527, in _get_spec
File "<frozen importlib._bootstrap_external>", line 1514, in _path_importer_cache
File "<frozen importlib._bootstrap_external>", line 1490, in _path_hooks
File "<frozen importlib._bootstrap_external>", line 1714, in path_hook_for_FileFinder
File "<frozen importlib._bootstrap_external>", line 173, in _path_isdir
File "<frozen importlib._bootstrap_external>", line 158, in _path_is_mode_type
File "<frozen importlib._bootstrap_external>", line 152, in _path_stat
ValueError: stat: path too long for Windows
CPython versions tested on:
3.13, CPython main branch
Operating systems tested on:
Windows
Linked PRs
- gh-122389
Contributor guide
First steps
- Read the whole issue, then the project's contributing guide.
- Comment on the issue to say you are picking it up — it saves two people doing the same work.
- Fork the repository and make your change on a branch.
- Open a pull request that references the issue number.
Research direction
Start with the long-path reproductions in the issue and inspect the frozen getpath and importlib._bootstrap_external traceback locations on Windows. Review issue #122170 and linked PR gh-122389 for existing direction. Done means long PYTHONPATH and sys.path entries no longer produce the reported startup or import errors.
Written by the indexing model from the issue text.
Assessment
- Tech stack
- python
- Domain
- backend, operating-systems
- Issue type
- Bug
- Difficulty
- 4/5
- Estimated time
- 3-5 days
- Activity status
- Stale
- Clarity
- Mostly clear
- Newbie friendliness
- 25/100