Check if Python Package is installed

Question

Hi, what's a good way to check if a package is installed while within a Python script? I know it's easy from the interpreter, but I need to do it within a script.

I guess I could check if there's a directory on the system that's created during the installation but I feel like there's a better way. I'm trying to make sure the Skype4Py package is installed, and if not I'll install it.

My ideas of accomplishing the checkage

• check for a directory in the typical install path
• try to import the package and if an exception is throw, then install package

Thanks for any help!

Answer 1

Go option #2. If ImportError is thrown, then the package is not installed (or not in sys.path).

Answer 2

If you mean a python script, just do something like this:

try:
 import mymodule
except ImportError, e:
 pass # module doesn't exist, deal with it.