Fix for Google AppEngine “ImportError: cannot import name os_compat” on Linux
March 14, 2010
This is a permissions problems. Probably because I like to install software as root in /usr/local, rather than in my /home directory. The solution is to make it readable for everyone:
cd /usr/local/google_appengine
sudo chmod -R ugoa+r *
I would recommend Google switching from a .zip file to a .tar.gz file (which can have specific permissions in it).
Thank you so much. I was about ready to tear out an eyeball and mail it to Google.