Distributing Python Modules

Authors:Greg Ward, Anthony Baxter Email:distutils-sig@python.org Release:2.6 Date:December 20, 2008

This document describes the Python Distribution Utilities (“Distutils”) from the module developer’s point of view, describing how to use the Distutils to make Python modules and extensions easily available to a wider audience with very little overhead for build/release/install mechanics.

• An Introduction to Distutils
  • Concepts & Terminology
  • A Simple Example
  • General Python terminology
  • Distutils-specific terminology

• Writing the Setup Script
  • Listing whole packages
  • Listing individual modules
  • Describing extension modules
  • Relationships between Distributions and Packages
  • Installing Scripts
  • Installing Package Data
  • Installing Additional Files
  • Additional meta-data
  • Debugging the setup script

• Writing the Setup Configuration File

• Creating a Source Distribution
  • Specifying the files to distribute
  • Manifest-related options

• Creating Built Distributions
  • Creating dumb built distributions
  • Creating RPM packages
  • Creating Windows Installers
  • Cross-compiling on Windows
  • Vista User Access Control (UAC)

• Registering with the Package Index
  • The .pypirc file

• Uploading Packages to the Package Index

• Examples
  • Pure Python distribution (by module)
  • Pure Python distribution (by package)
  • Single extension module

• Extending Distutils
  • Integrating new commands
  • Adding new distribution types

• Command Reference
  • Installing modules: the install command family
  • Creating a source distribution: the sdist command

• API Reference
  • distutils.core — Core Distutils functionality
  • distutils.ccompiler — CCompiler base class
  • distutils.unixccompiler — Unix C Compiler
  • distutils.msvccompiler — Microsoft Compiler
  • distutils.bcppcompiler — Borland Compiler
  • distutils.cygwincompiler — Cygwin Compiler
  • distutils.emxccompiler — OS/2 EMX Compiler
  • distutils.mwerkscompiler — Metrowerks CodeWarrior support
  • distutils.archive_util — Archiving utilities
  • distutils.dep_util — Dependency checking
  • distutils.dir_util — Directory tree operations
  • distutils.file_util — Single file operations
  • distutils.util — Miscellaneous other utility functions
  • distutils.dist — The Distribution class
  • distutils.extension — The Extension class
  • distutils.debug — Distutils debug mode
  • distutils.errors — Distutils exceptions
  • distutils.fancy_getopt — Wrapper around the standard getopt module
  • distutils.filelist — The FileList class
  • distutils.log — Simple PEP 282-style logging
  • distutils.spawn — Spawn a sub-process
  • distutils.sysconfig — System configuration information
  • distutils.text_file — The TextFile class
  • distutils.version — Version number classes
  • distutils.cmd — Abstract base class for Distutils commands
  • distutils.command — Individual Distutils commands
  • distutils.command.bdist — Build a binary installer
  • distutils.command.bdist_packager — Abstract base class for packagers
  • distutils.command.bdist_dumb — Build a “dumb” installer
  • distutils.command.bdist_msi — Build a Microsoft Installer binary package
  • distutils.command.bdist_rpm — Build a binary distribution as a Redhat RPM and SRPM
  • distutils.command.bdist_wininst — Build a Windows installer
  • distutils.command.sdist — Build a source distribution
  • distutils.command.build — Build all files of a package
  • distutils.command.build_clib — Build any C libraries in a package
  • distutils.command.build_ext — Build any extensions in a package
  • distutils.command.build_py — Build the .py/.pyc files of a package
  • distutils.command.build_scripts — Build the scripts of a package
  • distutils.command.clean — Clean a package build area
  • distutils.command.config — Perform package configuration
  • distutils.command.install — Install a package
  • distutils.command.install_data — Install data files from a package
  • distutils.command.install_headers — Install C/C++ header files from a package
  • distutils.command.install_lib — Install library files from a package
  • distutils.command.install_scripts — Install script files from a package
  • distutils.command.register — Register a module with the Python Package Index
  • Creating a new Distutils command