OxidizedFinder not found on sys.meta_path[0]

[kwsmith1]

I'm new to this library and running into a problem. I've created a build but when I try to run a Python script through my embedded interpreter I'm getting this message:

error instantiating embedded Python interpreter: OxidizedFinder not found on sys.meta_path[0] (this should never happen)

I've searched around but can't find a straightforward answer anywhere. The 'this should never happen' part is especially discouraging.

Anyone have an idea how to move past this error?

[indygreg]

Do you have steps to reproduce?

I want to say this is reproducible by writing custom Rust code. But looking at the interpreter initialization code in pyembed, it is difficult for me to see how this error could occur. Although there is a TODO in remove_external_importers() that may be the source of this.

[kwsmith1]

I cannot reproduce in another environment; I tried on two separate machines, which both worked just fine.
I did not write any custom Rust code.

I'm not sure how to debug at this point.

[indygreg]

This can be caused by a .pth file in site-packages installing its own meta path importer. And in recent months modern versions of setuptools employ such a trick. We'll need to shore up the sys.meta_path code to be more tolerant of additional meta path importers.

A short term workaround is to disable the import of the site module at interpreter initialization time. e.g. site_import = False in Starlark. https://gregoryszorc.com/docs/pyoxidizer/0.22.0/pyoxidizer_config_type_python_interpreter_config.html#starlark_pyoxidizer.PythonInterpreterConfig.site_import