Python Relative import does not work from command line gives ValueError -

my directory structure follows

microblog/__init__.py          urls.py          views.py          wsgi.py          settings/__init__.py                  testing.py                  base.py                  local.py 

in testing.py have relative import

from .base import * ... ...more code 

when try run testing.py command line in directory microblog/settings using python testing.py

from .base import * valueerror: attempted relative import in non-package 

why not work. settings directory valid package init.py . not valueerror command line if change

from .base import * 

to

from base import * 

i trying understand why relative local import fails , gives valueerror when run "testing.py" package relative import in command line.

the answer icyrock in this post clarifies didnt understand python "repl".

in directory microblog/settings when run

python testing.py 

it puts testing in package "main" , not know testing part of package "settings". instead running "testing.py" module part of normal package hierarchy using this

python -m microblog.settings.testing  

runs without valueerror since python knows "testing" part of package "settings" relative local import "from .base import *" makes perfect sense.