Prefix config file with its type

docs/source/run.rst

@@ -47,8 +47,8 @@ You can now run the app with the following command::
 Commonly Used Arguments
 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
 
-* ``-c CONFIG, --config=CONFIG`` - Specify the path to a config file or
-  Python module.
+* ``-c CONFIG, --config=CONFIG`` - Specify a config file in the form
+  ``$(PATH)``, ``file:$(PATH)``, or ``python:$(MODULE_NAME)``.
 * ``-b BIND, --bind=BIND`` - Specify a server socket to bind. Server sockets
   can be any of ``$(HOST)``, ``$(HOST):$(PORT)``, or ``unix:$(PATH)``.
   An IP is a valid ``$(HOST)``.

docs/source/settings.rst

@@ -16,14 +16,20 @@ Config File
 config
 ~~~~~~
 
-* ``-c FILE, --config FILE``
+* ``-c CONFIG, --config CONFIG``
 * ``None``
 
-The path to a Gunicorn config file, or python module.
+The Gunicorn config file.
+
+A string of the form ``PATH``, ``file:PATH``, or ``python:MODULE_NAME``.
 
 Only has an effect when specified on the command line or as part of an
 application specific configuration.
 
+.. versionchanged:: 19.4
+   Loading the config from a Python module requires the ``python:``
+   prefix.
+
 Server Socket
 -------------
 

gunicorn/app/base.py

@@ -108,10 +108,15 @@ def load_config_from_module_name_or_filename(self, location):
         Exception or stop the process if the configuration file contains a syntax error.
         """
 
-        try:
-            cfg = self.get_config_from_module_name(module_name=location)
-        except ImportError:
-            cfg = self.get_config_from_filename(filename=location)
+        if location.startswith("python:"):
+            module_name = location[len("python:"):]
+            cfg = self.get_config_from_module_name(module_name)
+        else:
+            if location.startswith("file:"):
+                filename = location[len("file:"):]
+            else:
+                filename = location
+            cfg = self.get_config_from_filename(filename)
 
         for k, v in cfg.items():
             # Ignore unknown names
@@ -127,9 +132,7 @@ def load_config_from_module_name_or_filename(self, location):
         return cfg
 
     def load_config_from_file(self, filename):
-        return self.load_config_from_module_name_or_filename(
-            location=filename
-        )
+        return self.load_config_from_module_name_or_filename(location=filename)
 
     def load_config(self):
         # parse console args

gunicorn/config.py

@@ -465,14 +465,20 @@ class ConfigFile(Setting):
     name = "config"
     section = "Config File"
     cli = ["-c", "--config"]
-    meta = "FILE"
+    meta = "CONFIG"
     validator = validate_string
     default = None
     desc = """\
-        The path to a Gunicorn config file, or python module.
+        The Gunicorn config file.
+
+        A string of the form ``PATH``, ``file:PATH``, or ``python:MODULE_NAME``.
 
         Only has an effect when specified on the command line or as part of an
         application specific configuration.
+
+        .. versionchanged:: 19.4
+           Loading the config from a Python module requires the ``python:``
+           prefix.
         """
 
 class Bind(Setting):

tests/test_config.py

@@ -183,8 +183,15 @@ def test_load_config():
     assert app.cfg.workers == 3
     assert app.cfg.proc_name == "fooey"
 
+def test_load_config_explicit_file():
+    with AltArgs(["prog_name", "-c", "file:%s" % cfg_file()]):
+        app = NoConfigApp()
+    assert app.cfg.bind == ["unix:/tmp/bar/baz"]
+    assert app.cfg.workers == 3
+    assert app.cfg.proc_name == "fooey"
+
 def test_load_config_module():
-    with AltArgs(["prog_name", "-c", cfg_module()]):
+    with AltArgs(["prog_name", "-c", "python:%s" % cfg_module()]):
         app = NoConfigApp()
     assert app.cfg.bind == ["unix:/tmp/bar/baz"]
     assert app.cfg.workers == 3
@@ -197,7 +204,7 @@ def test_cli_overrides_config():
     assert app.cfg.proc_name == "fooey"
 
 def test_cli_overrides_config_module():
-    with AltArgs(["prog_name", "-c", cfg_module(), "-b", "blarney"]):
+    with AltArgs(["prog_name", "-c", "python:%s" % cfg_module(), "-b", "blarney"]):
         app = NoConfigApp()
     assert app.cfg.bind == ["blarney"]
     assert app.cfg.proc_name == "fooey"