[Qgis-user] Error importing qgis in python

[G. Allegri]

> I believe the Python features of Qgis are supposed to be used from within Qgis, either in plugins or the builtin python console.  It >certainly is compiled that way, even if it is supposed to be possible.

That's not true. If you correctly setup the environment (path to qgis
libraries, python modules, etc.) you can use qgis functionalities
within python without starting up qgis itself.
Look at here: http://desktopgisbook.com/Creating_a_Standalone_GIS_Application_1

bye,
giovanni