Hi, There are 4 main ways to run Python: (1) python -m module [...] (2) python script.py [...] (3) python -c code [...] (4) python [...] (1) and (2) insert the directory of the module/script at sys.path[0]. (3) and (4) insert an empty string at sys.path[0]. This behavior is convenient and is maybe part of Python usability success: importing a module in the current directory is as easy as "import other_module" (load other_module.py). But it's also a threat to security: an attacker can override a stdlib module by creating a Python script with the same name than a stdlib module, like os.py or shutil.py. People learning Python commonly create a file with the same name than a stdlib module (ex: random.py) and then are clueless in face of an ImportError exception. Changing the default behavior was discussed multiple times. No consensus was reached, maybe because most users like the current default behavior and are not affected by corner cases (see below). I propose adding a -P option to Python command line interface to "not add sys.path[0]": https://github.com/python/cpython/pull/31542 See the documentation in the PR for the exact behavior of this option. I prefer to add an environment variable, only pass the option explicitly on the command line. Since Python 3.4, there is already the -I ("isolated mode") option: https://docs.python.org/dev/using/cmdline.html#cmdoption-I The -I option has other effects like disabling user site directories, it option doesn't fit use cases of the -P option. One annoying issue of the Python default behavior is that running a script in /usr/bin/ as root can create or override .pyc files in the /usr directory, even in the /usr/bin/ directory. Example of this surprising and annoying issue: https://github.com/benjaminp/six/issues/359#issuecomment-996159668 The -P option can be used in #!/usr/bin/python shebang to avoid this issue. -- An alternative would be to change the default behavior to not add sys.path[0], and add an option to opt-in for Python 3.10 behavior. Here are my notes about it: https://github.com/vstinner/misc/blob/main/cpython/pep_path0.rst What do you think? Victor -- Night gathers, and now my watch begins. It shall not end until my death.