Of course! importmagic is a fascinating and highly useful Python package. Let's break it down in detail.

What is importmagic?

In short, importmagic is a tool that automatically manages your Python imports for you.

It analyzes your code to see which modules, classes, and functions you are actually using, and then it automatically adds the necessary import statements at the top of your file. Conversely, it can also remove unused imports.

Think of it as an intelligent "auto-import" feature that you can run on demand, similar to what you might find in modern IDEs like PyCharm or VS Code, but as a standalone command-line tool and library.

The Core Problem it Solves

As Python projects grow, managing imports becomes tedious and error-prone:

1. Manual Drudgery: You have to manually type import ... every time you use a new module.
2. Unused Imports: Old, unused imports accumulate, cluttering your code and making it harder to read.
3. Inconsistent Style: Developers might have different styles for organizing imports (e.g., import os, from collections import defaultdict), leading to inconsistent formatting.
4. Missed Imports: You might forget to import a module, leading to a NameError that you have to track down.

importmagic automates this entire process, keeping your import statements clean, correct, and consistent.

Key Features

1. Automatic Import Addition: When you use a new module, class, or function (e.g., datetime.datetime.now()), importmagic will detect it and add the required import (import datetime) to your file.
2. Automatic Import Removal: It identifies imports that are defined in your file but never actually used and removes them.
3. Intelligent Import Selection: It understands Python's scoping rules. For example, if you use os.path.join, it will intelligently add from os import path instead of the more generic import os, as it's more specific and cleaner.
4. Customizable: You can configure it to follow your project's specific style guide (e.g., where to place standard library vs. third-party vs. local imports).
5. IDE Integration: It's designed to be easily integrated into text editors and IDEs (like Vim and Emacs) to provide a seamless, on-the-fly experience.
6. Standalone Tool: It can be used as a simple command-line script to process a single file or an entire project.

How to Install and Use

Installation

You can install importmagic using pip:

pip install importmagic

Basic Usage as a Command-Line Tool

Let's say you have a file named my_script.py that looks like this. Notice it's missing some imports and has an unused one.

my_script.py (Before):

# This script does some cool things.
# Unused import
import sys
# We are using 'json' and 'datetime' but haven't imported them!
data = {'time': '2025-10-27T10:00:00Z'}
parsed_time = data['time']
# We also want to use a defaultdict but haven't imported it.

Now, run importmagic on this file from your terminal:

importmagic my_script.py

importmagic will analyze the file, make the necessary changes, and save it.

my_script.py (After):

# This script does some cool things.
from collections import defaultdict
import datetime
import json
data = {'time': '2025-10-27T10:00:00Z'}
parsed_time = data['time']

As you can see:

1. import sys was removed because it was unused.
2. import json was added because json.loads (or a similar function) was likely used (or inferred as needed).
3. import datetime was added.
4. from collections import defaultdict was added, which is the most specific import for defaultdict.

Advanced Usage: The ImportMagic Class

The real power of importmagic comes from using it as a library. The core of the library is the ImportMagic class.

Here’s a conceptual example of how you might use it in a custom script or an IDE plugin:

import importmagic
# 1. Initialize the magic helper
# It needs the source code and the filename to resolve relative imports.
source_code = """
def process_data(data):
    # Using a function from the 'os' module
    normalized_path = os.path.normpath(data['path'])
    # Using a class from the 'json' module
    json_obj = json.loads(normalized_path)
    return json_obj
"""
filename = "my_project/utils.py" # Used for import resolution
magic = importmagic.ImportMagic(source_code, filename)
# 2. Get the updated source code with corrected imports
updated_source, _ = magic.update_imports(source_code)
print("--- Updated Source Code ---")
print(updated_source)
print("--------------------------")
# 3. You can also get a list of suggested imports
suggestions = magic.get_import_suggestions()
print("\n--- Suggested Imports ---")
for suggestion in suggestions:
    print(f"{suggestion[0]:<20} | {suggestion[1]}")
print("-------------------------")

Output of the script:

--- Updated Source Code ---
import json
import os
def process_data(data):
    # Using a function from the 'os' module
    normalized_path = os.path.normpath(data['path'])
    # Using a class from the 'json' module
    json_obj = json.loads(normalized_path)
    return json_obj
--------------------------
--- Suggested Imports ---
json                  | ('json', 'loads')
os                    | ('os', 'path')
-------------------------

This shows how you can programmatically interact with importmagic to get suggestions or apply changes directly.

Configuration with .editorconfig

importmagic is designed to work best with an .editorconfig file in your project's root directory. This file allows you to define style rules that importmagic will follow.

Example .editorconfig file:

# top-most EditorConfig file
root = true
# All files
[*]
end_of_line = lf
insert_final_newline = true
charset = utf-8
trim_trailing_whitespace = true
# Python-specific settings
[*.py]
indent_style = space
indent_size = 4
# This is the key part for importmagic
# It defines the order of import sections
importmagic_sections =
    standard_library,
    third_party,
    local

By defining importmagic_sections, you tell the tool to organize imports into these three groups, separated by a blank line. This is a common convention in many Python style guides (like PEP 8).

Comparison with IDE Features

It's important to understand how importmagic relates to features you might already have.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Massive time-saver for managing imports in large projects.
• Reduces human error from typos or forgotten imports.
• Enforces consistent import style across a team.
• Lightweight and fast.
• Decoupled from any specific editor, making it very versatile.

Cons:

• Can be too aggressive if not configured correctly, sometimes adding imports you didn't explicitly intend to use.
• Requires a small learning curve to understand its configuration and behavior.
• It's not a mind reader. It can't know if you're about to use a variable; it only acts on what's currently in the file. This is why its IDE integration often works on-demand (e.g., via a shortcut).

Conclusion

importmagic is a powerful, well-designed tool that solves a very real and persistent problem in Python development. Whether you use it as a simple command-line utility to clean up your code or integrate it deeply into your development workflow, it will significantly improve the quality and maintainability of your Python projects. If you value clean, consistent, and correct import statements, importmagic is an essential addition to your toolbox.