Pytest 7.0.0 appears to break pytest-pythonpath python_paths in pytest.ini

[enewton]

We have some utility helper code in a separate folder to our tests. Up until now we have this configured via pytest.ini like so:

[pytest]
python_paths = ./utils/

This definition appears to be getting ignored after upgrading to pytest 7.0.0, which then gives us 'module not found' errors on tests trying to import utils. Reading around, it looks like this functionality is now built in to pytest and so is pytest-pythonpath obsolete?

I can get our tests passing again by updating to:

[pytest]
pythonpath = ./utils/

So the main question is, is this change in behaviour expected? Has the old method been deliberately disabled or should I raise a bug?

[bluetech]

Reading around, it looks like this functionality is now built in to pytest and so is pytest-pythonpath obsolete?

Yes, pytest-pythonpath was integrated into pytest itself more or less.

is this change in behaviour expected?

No, I don't remember anything that should break pytest-pythonpath. I will create an issue from this discussion to investigate this.

[enewton]

Thanks for looking into this. As a clue, when running 7.0.0 I get a warning:
PytestConfigWarning: Unknown config option: python_paths
Which suggests the pythonpath plugin hasn't loaded?

I've created a simple reproducer. Out of the box, pytest==6.2.5 runs for me. With pytest==7.0.0 I have to uncomment the line in pytest.ini
pytest_repro.zip

[bluetech]

Thanks, I was able to figure out the problem, see #9636.

[enewton]

Thank you. That makes sense. And so is the change of key from python_paths to pythonpath an intentional attempt to avoid conflicts? Are they semantically subtly different or could the built-in plugin just have read python_paths?

[bluetech]

It was intended to avoid conflicting with pytest-pythonpath, and also to match the way Python spells it - PYTHONPATH.