Order in which modules are imported

[Tim Chase]

>>>> import random
>>>> from pylab import *
>>>> x = random.uniform(0,1)
> 
> Traceback (most recent call last):


I suspect that

 >>> 'random' in dir(pylab)

returns True...this would be one of those reasons that "from
<module> import *" is scowled upon.  You have to know what
<module> is dumping into your namespace, or otherwise, it will
likely tromp atop other things you have defined before.

Looking at the source of pylab.py, I see

 from numpy.random import *

and numpy.random has a "random" function in it.  This waltzes
atop your random module.  A modern fandango-on-core...perhaps
"fandango on namespace".

The other alternative, if you must do "from pylab import *",
would be to import the system "random" module under another name:

  import random as pyrandom
  from pylab import *
  ...
  x = pyrandom.uniform(0,1)

-tkc