Importing a Python module works from command line, but not from PyCharm

My default Python binary is set to the one with the Anaconda distribution of Python. This is found at /home/karnivaurus/anaconda/bin/python, and I have made this the default by adding to my .bashrc file the following: export PATH=/home/karnivaurus/anaconda/bin:$PATH.

I also have a Python package called caffe, which is located at /home/karnivaurus/caffe/distribute/python, and I have added this to the package search path by adding to my .bashrc file the following: export PYTHONPATH=${PYTHONPATH}:/home/karnivaurus/caffe/distribute/python.

Now, I have a simple Python file, called test.py, with the following contents:

import caffe
print "Done."

If I run this by entering python test.py into the terminal, it runs fine, printing out "Done.". The problem I am having is when I run this in the PyCharm IDE. In PyCharm, I have set the interpreter to be /home/karnivaurus/anaconda/bin/python. But when I open test.py in PyCharm, and run the file in the IDE, I get the following error:

ImportError: No module named caffe

So my question is: Why can PyCharm not find the caffe module when it runs the Python script, but it can be found when I run the script from the terminal?

Thank you!

3 Answers

As ByteCommander said in a comment, PyCharm doesn't use bashrc, so it doesn't know where your library is.

In the same screen where you added the interpreter you can see a wheel icon, click it, it will show you a menu, click on more. You should see a screen like this:

You should select your interpreter and click on the last button. This should open this window:

Now clicking on the plus icon you should be able to add your own paths for libraries.

Programs started from the Ubuntu launcher do not read .bashrc. As an alternative to setting the paths in PyCharm, you can simply start PyCharm from a Bash shell to give it access to the environment variables you set in .bashrc.

Open the following shortcut (Ctrl + Alt + S), and click (Project: xxxx), now choose (Project Structure) and select (/home/yourUser/PycharmProjects/XXXX/venv/bin) and right-click (Excluded) or (Alt + E).

Now click (+ Add Content Root) and see if it points to the following location (/home/ yourUser/PycharmProjects/XXXXX/venv/bin) and click OK. Now close the IDE and open it again.