This is a meta issue tracking all the things that need to be cleaned up in the import system. From removing long deprecated APIs to migrating internal access to__spec__, we'll have several task lists for each related set of clean ups.

@brettcannon@ericsnowcurrently for visibility.

Removing deprecated APIs

Over inWhat's New for Python 3.11 there's a long list of things that have been deprecated long enough that they can be removed in Python 3.12. Here's that task list for tracking purposes. Watch for linked PRs (maybe one big one or many small ones -- we'll see!).

@brettcannon@ericsnowcurrently for visibility.

• importlib.find_loader()
• importlib.util.module_for_loader()
• importlib.util.set_loader_wrapper()
• importlib.util.set_package_wrapper()
• importlib.abc.Loader.module_repr() (3.12:gh-97850: Remove all known instances of module_repr() #97876)
• importlib.abc.MetaPathFinder.find_module()
• importlib.abc.MetaPathFinder.find_module()
• importlib.abc.PathEntryFinder.find_loader()
• importlib.abc.PathEntryFinder.find_module()
• importlib.machinery.BuiltinImporter.find_module()
• importlib.machinery.BuiltinLoader.module_repr() (3.12:gh-97850: Remove all known instances of module_repr() #97876)
• importlib.machinery.FileFinder.find_loader()
• importlib.machinery.FileFinder.find_module()
• importlib.machinery.FrozenImporter.find_module()
• importlib.machinery.FrozenLoader.module_repr() (3.12:gh-97850: Remove all known instances of module_repr() #97876)
• importlib.machinery.PathFinder.find_module()
• importlib.machinery.WindowsRegistryFinder.find_module()
• Removepkgutil.ImpImporter (3.12: already deprecated)
• Removepkgutil.ImpLoader
• Remove theimp module (3.12:Remove more deprecated importlib APIs from Python 3.12 #98040)
• importlib.abc.Finder

Update docs

• Make sure examples and details fromPEP 302 are covered in the importlib docs (/cc@Yhg1s )
• Removehttps://docs.python.org/3/reference/import.html#open-issues (PR)
• It would be really nice to have a diagram.
• (import_machinery.rst) how about a section devoted just to the attributes of modules and packages, perhaps expanding upon or supplanting the related entries in the data model reference page?
• runpy, pkgutil, et al in the library manual should all get “See Also” links at the top pointing to the new import system section.
• Add more explanation regarding the different ways in which__main__ is initialized?
• Add more info on__main__ quirks/pitfalls (i.e. copy fromPEP 395).

Missing deprecations

Here's a list of related APIs that have not yet been deprecated, but should be. We'll deprecate them in 3.12 and remove them in 3.14.

• pkgutil.find_loader()
• pkgutil.get_loader() (or it needs to be reimplemented to not usefind_loader())

Other:

• Do we need to define importlib.abc.PathEntryFinder.find_spec() #103999

• PR:gh-97850: Deprecatefind_loader andget_loader inpkgutil #98520

• PR:GH-97850: Suppress cross-references to the removedmodule_repr method #104133

• PR:GH-97850: Suppress cross-references to removedimportlib.util functions #104134

• PR:gh-97850: Note in py312 whatsnew thatimportlib.util.set_loader andimportlib.util.module_for_loader have been removed #108719

• PR:[3.12] gh-97850: Note in py312 whatsnew thatimportlib.util.set_loader andimportlib.util.module_for_loader have been removed (GH-108719) #108723

• PR:gh-97850: removefind_loader andget_loader frompkgutil #119656

• PR:gh-97850: SuggestTraversableResources as the alternative forResourceLoader. #128601

• PR:gh-97850: Remove the mention of removal fromResourceReader docs #128602

• PR:[3.13] gh-97850: Remove the mention of removal fromResourceReader docs (GH-128602) #128654

• PR:[3.12] gh-97850: Remove the mention of removal fromResourceReader docs (GH-128602) #128655

• PR:[3.13] gh-97850: SuggestTraversableResources as the alternative forResourceLoader (GH-128601) #128895

• PR:[3.12] gh-97850: SuggestTraversableResources as the alternative forResourceLoader (GH-128601) #128896

• PR:gh-97850: Update the deprecation warning ofimportlib.abc.Loader.load_module #129855

• PR:[3.13] gh-97850: Update the deprecation warning ofimportlib.abc.Loader.load_module (GH-129855) #130013

• PR:[3.12] gh-97850: Update the deprecation warning ofimportlib.abc.Loader.load_module (GH-129855) #130017

• PR:gh-131152, pkgutil: Remove unused imports #131149