Python setuptools documentation

Eleanor 163 Published: 07/30/2024

Python setuptools documentation

I'll respond in English this time!

The Python Setuptools documentation provides comprehensive guidance on how to create and manage Python packages using the Setuptools library. Here's an overview of what you can find in the documentation:

What is Setuptools?

Setuptools is a Python package that streamlines the process of creating, distributing, and installing packages. It provides a set of tools for managing dependencies, building distributions, and running tests.

Getting Started with Setuptools

The documentation begins by explaining how to get started with Setuptools. You'll learn how to:

Install Setuptools Create a new package using the setup.py file Define your package's metadata (name, version, author) Write a README.md file and other documentation

Package Development

The documentation then delves into the process of developing a Python package. You'll learn how to:

Use Setuptools' setup() function to define your package's metadata Create executables, scripts, or data files in your package Manage dependencies using install_requires and extras_require Write tests for your package using test_suite

Package Distribution

Once you've developed your package, the documentation explains how to distribute it. You'll learn how to:

Create a source distribution (.tar.gz) of your package Create a wheel distribution (.whl) of your package Upload your package to PyPI (Python Package Index) Use twine to create a distribution that includes dependencies

Package Installation

Finally, the documentation covers how to install your package. You'll learn how to:

Install a package using pip Install a package from a local file or URL Upgrade an installed package Remove a package

Advanced Topics

The documentation also touches on advanced topics such as:

Creating and managing packages with non-standard names (e.g., containing hyphens or underscores) Using Setuptools' namespace_packages option to group related packages together Integrating Setuptools with other tools like Sphinx for building documentation

Overall, the Python Setuptools documentation provides a comprehensive guide to creating, distributing, and installing Python packages. Whether you're new to package development or just want to learn more about how to manage dependencies and distributions, this documentation has something for everyone!

Python setuptools example

I'm glad you asked! Here's an example of using the popular Python packaging tool, setuptools, to create a simple package.

What is setuptools?

setuptools is a Python module that provides support for building and distributing Python packages (also known as "distributions"). It's used extensively in the Python community to manage dependencies, build and install packages, and make them available for others to use. Think of it like a package manager, but specifically designed for Python.

Creating a Simple Package

Let's create a simple package called hello_world. We'll start by creating an empty directory (mkdir hello_world) and initializing the package using the following command:

$ python setup.py init

This will create a basic setup.py file with some pre-defined values. Here's what's inside:

from setuptools import setup
setup(
name='hello_world',
version='0.1',
packages=['hello_world'],
author='Your Name',
author_email='[email protected]'
)

The setup.py File

Let's go over the important parts of this file:

The first line imports setuptools. The setup() function is called with several keyword arguments, which describe our package. name: The name of our package (hello_world). version: The version number for our package (0.1 in this case). packages: A list containing the directory(s) that contain the Python packages we want to distribute.

Building and Installing

Now that our package is initialized, let's build it using:

$ python setup.py sdist

This will create a source distribution of our package (a .tar.gz file). We can install this package by running:

$ pip install --no-deps hello_world-0.1.tar.gz

The setup.cfg File

In newer versions of setuptools, you'll need to create a setup.cfg file instead of modifying the setup.py file directly. This is because setuptools has become more configuration-oriented.

Here's an example setup.cfg file:

[metadata]
name = hello_world
version = 0.1
[options]
packages = find:
[options.packages.find]
package_dir =
include_package_data = True
root = .
[build_sdist]

Packaging and Distributing

So, how do we distribute our package to the world? That's where setuptools comes in handy again. You can create a pbr (Package Build Repository) using:

$ pbr build hello_world

This will create a .tar.gz file with all necessary files to install and use your package. You can share this file with others, who can then install it using pip.

Conclusion

In this example, we've seen how to use setuptools to create, build, and distribute a simple Python package (hello_world). By initializing the package, building and installing it, and configuring our setup.cfg file, we're ready to share our package with the world.