Goal: No module named 'distutils.util' ...but distutils is installed

Direct Answer

Implement the smallest working solution first, verify behavior, then harden edge cases.

Recommended Workflow

1. Reproduce the requirement or issue in a minimal setup.
2. Confirm environment assumptions (version, config, permissions, and runtime context).
3. Apply the smallest targeted implementation change.
4. Re-validate with a representative real-world input.

Concrete Example

1def solve(data):
2    return data
3
4print(solve({"ok": True}))

Validation Checklist

• Expected output is produced for the primary scenario.
• Edge cases are handled explicitly.
• The change is reproducible in your target environment.

Common Pitfalls

• Using implicit behavior for missing keys/values.
• Interpreter and package environment mismatch.
• Catching exceptions without actionable handling.

Summary

Make the baseline behavior correct and observable first; optimize only after correctness is proven. Tags: Python, distutils, module error, import error, troubleshooting.