How do you create a package in Python?

How do you create a package in Python?

I'd be happy to help you with that!

Creating a package in Python is a straightforward process. A package, also known as a module, is a collection of related code files (Python modules) and data files. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to create one:

1. Create a new directory

Firstly, create a new directory for your package using the mkdir command:

mkdir mypackage

Replace "mypackage" with your desired package name.

2. Create an empty file for the package's __init__.py

Inside your newly created directory (mypackage), create an empty file called __init__.py. This is a special file that tells Python to treat the directory as a package:

touch mypackage/__init__.py

3. Create Python modules within the package

Create one or multiple .py files within your package's directory to hold your Python code. For example, let's create math_helper.py and string_utils.py:

touch mypackage/math_helper.py
touch mypackage/string_utils.py

These will be your package's main modules.

4. Write your Python code

Write your Python functions or classes within these newly created .py files. For example, in math_helper.py, you might have a function called calculate_average:

# mypackage/math_helper.py
def calculate_average(numbers):
return sum(numbers) / len(numbers)

Similarly, string_utils.py could contain string manipulation functions.

5. Add an __all__.py file (optional)

If you have multiple modules within your package and want to control which ones are exported by default when users import the package, create a file called __all__.py. This file should contain a list of module names that should be imported:

# mypackage/__all__.py
all = ['math_helper', 'string_utils']

This way, users can simply do import mypackage and get access to these two modules.

6. Test your package

Create a test file outside the package directory (e.g., test_package.py) to verify that your package is working correctly:

# test_package.py
import mypackage
print(mypackage.math_helper.calculate_average([1, 2, 3]))  # Output: 2.0

7. Distribute and install

You can now distribute your package (e.g., by uploading it to PyPI or GitHub) and others can easily install and use it using pip:

pip install mypackage

In this example, you've created a package with multiple modules, each containing its own Python code. When someone imports your package, they'll have access to these modules.

Remember that packages are an excellent way to organize related code, making it reusable and easier to maintain. Happy packaging!

Python packaging examples github

Here are some Python packaging examples on GitHub:

GitHub URL: https://github.com/pyinstaller/pyinstaller

GitHub URL: https://github.com/pypa/setuptools

GitHub URL: https://github.com/pypa/pip

GitHub URL: https://github.com/python/wheel

GitHub URL: https://github.com/indygreg/pyoxidizer

GitHub URL: https://github.com/nuitka/nuitka

GitHub URL: https://github.com/ cx-Freeze/cx_Freeze

GitHub URL: https://github.com/pypa/packaging

These are just a few examples of Python packaging tools on GitHub. There are many more out there, each with its own strengths and weaknesses.