Python Serial works in shell but not script?

Question

I'm trying out an example on Arduino: http://playground.arduino.cc/Interfacing/Python

The example (running on Ubuntu) works great in the shell:

import serial

ser = serial.Serial('/dev/ttyACM0', 9600)

while True:
    print(ser.readline())

However attempting to execute as a script:

Desktop/python_arduino/./serial.py...

Which executes this:

#!/usr/bin/env python
import serial

ser = serial.Serial('/dev/ttyACM0', 9600)

while True:
    print(ser.readline())

And I get this:

Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "Desktop/python_arduino/./serial.py", line 2, in <module>
    import serial
  File "/home/leo/Desktop/python_arduino/serial.py", line 4, in <module>
    ser = serial.Serial('/dev/ttyACM0', 9600)
AttributeError: 'module' object has no attribute 'Serial'

What is causing this inconsistency? It should be easy to import serial regardless of shell or script right?

See my answer below. The script filename was the same name as the import. So the filename was serial.py. The module is called serial. I changed the script's filename, and it worked. — Orangeman555
– Orangeman555, Commented Oct 14, 2013 at 20:18

Orangeman555 · Accepted Answer · 2013-10-14 20:18:06Z

2

I FOUND IT!

The issue was actually subtle yet simple.

The script filename was the same name as the import.

So the filename was serial.py. The module is called serial, so it created a conflict.

I changed the script's filename, and it worked.

answered Oct 14, 2013 at 20:18

Orangeman555

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1 Comment

user3430761 Over a year ago

I had to delete the .pyc file as well.

Udo Klein · Accepted Answer · 2013-10-12 10:12:32Z

1

The difference between the shell and your script may be different path setups. Compare the paths and see if anything differs for the script vs. the shell

import ser
print ser.__file__

import sys
print sys.executable

answered Oct 12, 2013 at 10:12

Udo Klein

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