Could you try to create "root" aliases?

 from openvino.runtime.ie_api import Core
+openvino.Core = Core

This should repair from openvino import Core

To have openvino symbol please try:

• openvino = sys.modules['openvino']
• or just import openvino (in general it returns cached value from sys.modules)

BTW, Do we have import openvino.Core somewhere?

@alalek ok, thank you, I'll try it.

BTW, Do we have import openvino.Core somewhere?

As I know and as I saw in files, no, we don't have import openvino.Core

@alalek ok, I've tried to add openvino.Core = Core inside openvino/runtime/__init__.py and also openvino = sys.modules['openvino']

But the same problem occurred.
Attach console

Looks like the root __init__.py doesn't really import sub-packages during initialization (please add some debug "print" into runtime/__init__.py to check that).

Can we add dummy subpackages for Core, Tensor, etc?

openvino/Core/__init__.py:

import openvino

from openvino.runtime.ie_api import Core
openvino.Core = Core
del sys.modules['openvino.Core']

Need to check that these cases work with workaround:

• import openvino.Core
• from openvino import Core

We could initialize sub-packages using the walk_packages approach (available in Python 3.0+ at least)

Root openvino/__init__.py:

 __path__ = __import__('pkgutil').extend_path(__path__, __name__)

+def _subpackage_import_error(name):
+    print("WARN: Error importing sub-package '%s'" % name)
+    pass
+
+for module_info in __import__('pkgutil').walk_packages(__path__, __name__ + '.', onerror=_subpackage_import_error):
+    print(module_info.name)
+    pass

@alalek
I may try but looks like other subpackages like accuracy_checker should also add these lines.
Also one small doubt came from here: https://packaging.python.org/guides/packaging-namespace-packages/#pkgutil-style-namespace-packages

The __init__.py file for the namespace package needs to contain only the following:

__path__ = __import__('pkgutil').extend_path(__path__, __name__)

As I know, the code after this line is inaccessible.

BTW, this PR is like quick fix to unblock all, I'll continue to make from openvino import Core work here: #8846

CC @slyubimt

the code after this line is inaccessible.

My local print() experiment shows that code before and after this line runs properly.
There is no anything special - just regular Python code.

However it it critical that all openvino/__init__.py files must have the same content. Including AC.

if we need to initialize "runtime" only (and we perform all necessary initialization in runtime/__init__.py), then this would be enough (without walk_packages):

 __path__ = __import__('pkgutil').extend_path(__path__, __name__)
+__import__(__name__ + '.runtime')  # force initialization

AC possible workaround for __init__:

• use openvino -> openvino_tools package
• AC's openvino_tools/__init__.py - no special requirements except .extend_path()
• OV's openvino/__init__.py: add second "extend_path" line:

   __path__ = __import__('pkgutil').extend_path(__path__, __name__)
  +__path__ = __import__('pkgutil').extend_path(__path__, 'openvino_tools')
  +__import__(__name__ + '.runtime')

Verify (not sure about AC actual name):

• import openvino.accuracy_checker
• from openvino import accuracy_checker
• import openvino without installed openvino_tools

from openvino.runtime.impl import Function

src/bindings/python/src/openvino/runtime/__init__.py file has this:

from openvino.runtime.impl import Function

and we don't have __all__ there.

So, this should work:

-from openvino.runtime.impl import Function
+from openvino.runtime import Function

or with aliases above

-from openvino.runtime.impl import Function
+from openvino import Function

with the similar result.

from openvino.runtime import Core, Tensor, Function

To make this line work and import all 3 elements we also need to add in runtime/__init__.py (besides of added openvino.Core = Core):

openvino.Tensor = Tensor
openvino.Function = Function

@alalek I just wanted to make sure that this way would help with Core import. If it helped me, I'd add the rest classes.
BTW, still I need to import firstly openvino.runtime, only after that from openvino import Core works. So looks like when the user call import openvino, only openvino/__init__.py is initialized while openvino/runtime/__init__.py will be initialized after direct call of import openvino.runtime.
Look at the comment above

but it works as it imports like from openvino.runtime

I agree that we need try to check one part first.

I expected this diff (from initially commented patch):

-from openvino.runtime import Core, Tensor
+from openvino import Core
+from openvino.runtime import Tensor
 from openvino.runtime.impl import Function

BTW, Could you please add link to builder which contains logs for these lines?

only openvino/__init__.py is initialized

Looks like you are right (please check separate thread above).