Remove idlelib from sys.path in IDLE run process

When use IDLE to open a file and start a new IDLE windows from "Python Shell" button, you can import the modules that are the child modules in the module "idlelib", such as "help", "pyshell". Think for that there are many schools still use IDLE to teach python to prevent the students to install malicious plugins from other IDE, if the students try to import these modules, it will result in misleading.

import help

This code is wrong in cmd and any other IDE but "normal" in IDLE, and what is imported is "idlelib.help".

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Hi, there's a quick suggestion - the title of the issue should be more descriptive about the topic, rather than a very generic question, so the triagers and core devs can understand what's the issue about (whether it's in their area of expertise) without clicking into it.

@terryjreedy

cc @terryjreedy I don't understand the issue but since it seems to be IDLE related, I'm pinging you to have a look and decide the scope.

Which version of Python are you using? And what OS are you on?

On macOS I get:

Python 3.12.10 (v3.12.10:0cc81280367, Apr  8 2025, 08:46:59) [Clang 13.0.0 (clang-1300.0.29.30)] on darwin
Enter "help" below or click "Help" above for more information.
import help
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "<pyshell#0>", line 1, in <module>
    import help
ModuleNotFoundError: No module named 'help'

@Locked-chess-official

This is a subissue of #69674; I am leaving this open to patch this specific issue, which is that .../idlelib is sometimes on sys.path in the separate user process where user code is normally executed. ('Normally', means when option -n is not added to IDLE startup.) I noted in 2015 that this depends on how IDLE is started; and added today that it may have changed with version. It also depends the system. With 3.14 on my Win 10, >>> import help works. On my macbook with Catalina, it raises as Ronald shows above. (Note to anyone else: the splash line Enter "help" below ... is IDLE Shell specific.) Checking sys.path (most easily with for p in sys.path: print(p) shows that .../idlelib is present on Windows but not on Mac.

@Locked-chess-official What OS, python version, and IDLE startup method did you use.

I think adding the following to idlelib.run near the top should work.

for i in (0, 1):
   if sys.path[i].endswith('idlelib'):
    del sys.path[i]
    break

What OS, python version, and IDLE startup method did you use.

Windows, 3.12 and 3.13

Windows, 3.12 and 3.13 Windows, 3.12 和 3.13
When use idle.bat to start, it sames too.

Since idlelib is only sometimes present, and idlelib.run runs when it is absent, it must not depend on it being present. Therefore safe to remove. User code depending on its presence is buggy in not running without IDLE. User code failing because of its presence has a legitimate complaint.

gh-134300: Remove idlelib from the path of the IDLE user process (#15…

[3.13] gh-134300: Remove idlelib from the path of the IDLE user proce…

[3.15] gh-134300: Remove idlelib from the path of the IDLE user proce…

[3.14] gh-134300: Remove idlelib from the path of the IDLE user proce…

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Remove idlelib from sys.path in IDLE run process #134300

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Remove idlelib from sys.path in IDLE run process #134300

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gaogaotiantian commented on May 20, 2025

picnixz commented on May 20, 2025

ronaldoussoren commented on May 20, 2025

terryjreedy commented on May 20, 2025

Locked-chess-official commented on May 21, 2025

Locked-chess-official commented on May 21, 2025

terryjreedy commented on Dec 12, 2025

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