Import arbitrary python source file. (Python 3.3+)

Question

How can I import an arbitrary python source file (whose filename could contain any characters, and does not always ends with .py) in Python 3.3+?

I used imp.load_module as follows:

>>> import imp
>>> path = '/tmp/a-b.txt'
>>> with open(path, 'U') as f:
...     mod = imp.load_module('a_b', f, path, ('.py', 'U', imp.PY_SOURCE))
...
>>> mod
<module 'a_b' from '/tmp/a-b.txt'>

It still works in Python 3.3, but according to imp.load_module documentation, it is deprecated:

Deprecated since version 3.3: Unneeded as loaders should be used to load modules and find_module() is deprecated.

and imp module documentation recommends to use importlib:

Note New programs should use importlib rather than this module.

What is the proper way to load an arbitrary python source file in Python 3.3+ without using the deprecated imp.load_module function?

Answer 1

Found a solution from importlib test code.

Using importlib.machinery.SourceFileLoader:

>>> import importlib.machinery
>>> loader = importlib.machinery.SourceFileLoader('a_b', '/tmp/a-b.txt')
>>> mod = loader.load_module()
>>> mod
<module 'a_b' from '/tmp/a-b.txt'>

NOTE: only works in Python 3.3+.

UPDATE Loader.load_module is deprecated since Python 3.4. Use Loader.exec_module instead:

>>> import types
>>> import importlib.machinery
>>> loader = importlib.machinery.SourceFileLoader('a_b', '/tmp/a-b.txt')
>>> mod = types.ModuleType(loader.name)
>>> loader.exec_module(mod)
>>> mod
<module 'a_b'>

---

>>> import importlib.machinery
>>> import importlib.util
>>> loader = importlib.machinery.SourceFileLoader('a_b', '/tmp/a-b.txt')
>>> spec = importlib.util.spec_from_loader(loader.name, loader)
>>> mod = importlib.util.module_from_spec(spec)
>>> loader.exec_module(mod)
>>> mod
<module 'a_b' from '/tmp/a-b.txt'>