DeprecationWarning with load_module on Python 3.10 in pkg_resources._handle_ns

[blueyed]

DeprecationWarning: the load_module() method is deprecated and slated for removal in Python 3.12; use exec_module() instead

Code ref:

setuptools/pkg_resources/__init__.py

Line 2212 in 544687c

loader.load_module(packageName)

[hroncok]

I've drafted #2517 but I am sure that's not the correct path froward.

[encukou]

As for the calling of load_module in pkg_resources.__init__, it seems to me that the only purpose of the call is to ensure the module is loaded, so that its __path__ can be fixed up using _rebuild_mod_path. The call uses the default loader.

So, it could be replaced by importlib.import_module(packageName). From the load_module docs, the only thing it does in addition to what import_module does is reloading the module if it already exists. To me, that seems like an unintended side effect.
But I could also be off; the docs are written for implementing of loaders, not for calling them.

I'll send a PR.