# Distributing Python Modules (Legacy version)

Authors

  Greg Ward, Anthony Baxter

Email

  distutils-sig@python.org

See also

Distributing Python Modules

  The up to date module distribution documentations

Note

The entire `distutils` package has been deprecated and will be removed in Python 3.12. This documentation is retained as a reference only, and will be removed with the package. See the What’s New entry for more information.

Note

This document is being retained solely until the `setuptools` documentation at https://setuptools.readthedocs.io/en/latest/setuptools.html independently covers all of the relevant information currently included here.

Note

This guide only covers the basic tools for building and distributing extensions that are provided as part of this version of Python. Third party tools offer easier to use and more secure alternatives. Refer to the quick recommendations section in the Python Packaging User Guide for more information.

This document describes the Python Distribution Utilities (“Distutils”) from the module developer’s point of view, describing the underlying capabilities that `setuptools` builds on to allow Python developers to make Python modules and extensions readily available to a wider audience.

- 1. An Introduction to Distutils
  - 1.1. Concepts & Terminology
  - 1.2. A Simple Example
  - 1.3. General Python terminology
  - 1.4. Distutils-specific terminology
- 2. Writing the Setup Script
  - 2.1. Listing whole packages
  - 2.2. Listing individual modules
  - 2.3. Describing extension modules
  - 2.4. Relationships between Distributions and Packages
  - 2.5. Installing Scripts
  - 2.6. Installing Package Data
  - 2.7. Installing Additional Files
  - 2.8. Additional meta-data
  - 2.9. Debugging the setup script
- 3. Writing the Setup Configuration File
- 4. Creating a Source Distribution
  - 4.1. Specifying the files to distribute
  - 4.2. Manifest-related options
- 5. Creating Built Distributions
  - 5.1. Creating RPM packages
  - 5.2. Cross-compiling on Windows
- 6. Distutils Examples
  - 6.1. Pure Python distribution (by module)
  - 6.2. Pure Python distribution (by package)
  - 6.3. Single extension module
  - 6.4. Checking a package
  - 6.5. Reading the metadata
- 7. Extending Distutils
  - 7.1. Integrating new commands
  - 7.2. Adding new distribution types
- 8. Command Reference
  - 8.1. Installing modules: the install command family
  - 8.2. Creating a source distribution: the sdist command
- 9. API Reference
  - 9.1. `distutils.core` — Core Distutils functionality
  - 9.2. `distutils.ccompiler` — CCompiler base class
  - 9.3. `distutils.unixccompiler` — Unix C Compiler
  - 9.4. `distutils.msvccompiler` — Microsoft Compiler
  - 9.5. `distutils.bcppcompiler` — Borland Compiler
  - 9.6. `distutils.cygwincompiler` — Cygwin Compiler
  - 9.7. `distutils.archive_util` — Archiving utilities
  - 9.8. `distutils.dep_util` — Dependency checking
  - 9.9. `distutils.dir_util` — Directory tree operations
  - 9.10. `distutils.file_util` — Single file operations
  - 9.11. `distutils.util` — Miscellaneous other utility functions
  - 9.12. `distutils.dist` — The Distribution class
  - 9.13. `distutils.extension` — The Extension class
  - 9.14. `distutils.debug` — Distutils debug mode
  - 9.15. `distutils.errors` — Distutils exceptions
  - 9.16. `distutils.fancy_getopt` — Wrapper around the standard getopt module
  - 9.17. `distutils.filelist` — The FileList class
  - 9.18. `distutils.log` — Simple PEP 282-style logging
  - 9.19. `distutils.spawn` — Spawn a sub-process
  - 9.20. `distutils.sysconfig` — System configuration information
  - 9.21. `distutils.text_file` — The TextFile class
  - 9.22. `distutils.version` — Version number classes
  - 9.23. `distutils.cmd` — Abstract base class for Distutils commands
  - 9.24. Creating a new Distutils command
  - 9.25. `distutils.command` — Individual Distutils commands
  - 9.26. `distutils.command.bdist` — Build a binary installer
  - 9.27. `distutils.command.bdist_packager` — Abstract base class for packagers
  - 9.28. `distutils.command.bdist_dumb` — Build a “dumb” installer
  - 9.29. `distutils.command.bdist_msi` — Build a Microsoft Installer binary package
  - 9.30. `distutils.command.bdist_rpm` — Build a binary distribution as a Redhat RPM and SRPM
  - 9.31. `distutils.command.sdist` — Build a source distribution
  - 9.32. `distutils.command.build` — Build all files of a package
  - 9.33. `distutils.command.build_clib` — Build any C libraries in a package
  - 9.34. `distutils.command.build_ext` — Build any extensions in a package
  - 9.35. `distutils.command.build_py` — Build the .py/.pyc files of a package
  - 9.36. `distutils.command.build_scripts` — Build the scripts of a package
  - 9.37. `distutils.command.clean` — Clean a package build area
  - 9.38. `distutils.command.config` — Perform package configuration
  - 9.39. `distutils.command.install` — Install a package
  - 9.40. `distutils.command.install_data` — Install data files from a package
  - 9.41. `distutils.command.install_headers` — Install C/C++ header files from a package
  - 9.42. `distutils.command.install_lib` — Install library files from a package
  - 9.43. `distutils.command.install_scripts` — Install script files from a package
  - 9.44. `distutils.command.register` — Register a module with the Python Package Index
  - 9.45. `distutils.command.check` — Check the meta-data of a package