web2py returns an ImportError that can't find the module, but the .pyc file is in the _pycache__ dir

[João Matos]

After installing a compiled app, web2py returns an ImportError that can't find the module, but the .pyc file is in the modules\__pycache__ dir.

The compiled app doesn't transport the module\general.py (which is correct) but it includes th __pycache__\*.pyc (which is also correct).
The problem seems to be that web2py doesn't search for the .pyc file inside the __pycache__ or that it doesn't recognize the naming used.

My module is called general.py and the .pyc file inside __pycache__ is called (automatically by Python) general.cpython-37.pyc.

Windows 7 Pro x64 SP1+all updates
web2py 2.18.4
Python 3.7.1 x86
Firefox 65.0.2 x64

[Massimo Di Pierro]

I recommend deleting __pycache__. It may be due switching between python 2 and python 3.

[João Matos]

I don't have or use Python 2, only Python 3.

You want me to delete the __pycache__ dir from my web2py (where I compile the app) or from the client end (where I install the compiled app)?

[Massimo Di Pierro]

Yes. Try delete it.

[João Matos]

Which one? I asked with 2 options.

[Massimo Di Pierro]

all of them.

[João Matos]

I deleted both as instructed.

After that I compiled and installed the compiled app on the destination server.

The compiled app does not install the modules\general.py or the modules\general.pyc.

[João Matos]

If I recreate the modules\__pycache__ dir on my side, recompile and reinstall the app on the destination server, the compiled app copies the __pycache__ to the destination server when installing (which is correct), but does not copy the __pycache__\general.cpython-37.pyc to modules dir (which it think is the problem) and web2py returns the error

<class 'ImportError'> (ModuleNotFoundError("No module named 'applications.ajc.modules.general'"), <traceback object at 0x045733F0>)

when running the app.

If I on the destination server copy the modules\__pycache__\general.cpython-37.pyc to modules dir and change it's name to general.pyc, it all works.

It seems that web2py is not doing this last step.