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

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.

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.

* 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

  * 4.3. The MANIFEST.in template

* 5. Creating Built Distributions

  * 5.1. Creating dumb built distributions

  * 5.2. Creating RPM packages

  * 5.3. Creating Windows Installers

  * 5.4. Cross-compiling on Windows

  * 5.5. Vista User Access Control (UAC)

* 6. The Python Package Index (PyPI)

* 7. Examples

  * 7.1. Pure Python distribution (by module)

  * 7.2. Pure Python distribution (by package)

  * 7.3. Single extension module

* 8. Extending Distutils

  * 8.1. Integrating new commands

  * 8.2. Adding new distribution types

* 9. Command Reference

  * 9.1. Installing modules: the **install** command family

* 10. API Reference

  * 10.1. "distutils.core" — Core Distutils functionality

  * 10.2. "distutils.ccompiler" — CCompiler base class

  * 10.3. "distutils.unixccompiler" — Unix C Compiler

  * 10.4. "distutils.msvccompiler" — Microsoft Compiler

  * 10.5. "distutils.bcppcompiler" — Borland Compiler

  * 10.6. "distutils.cygwincompiler" — Cygwin Compiler

  * 10.7. "distutils.emxccompiler" — OS/2 EMX Compiler

  * 10.8. "distutils.archive_util" —  Archiving utilities

  * 10.9. "distutils.dep_util" — Dependency checking

  * 10.10. "distutils.dir_util" — Directory tree operations

  * 10.11. "distutils.file_util" — Single file operations

  * 10.12. "distutils.util" — Miscellaneous other utility functions

  * 10.13. "distutils.dist" — The Distribution class

  * 10.14. "distutils.extension" — The Extension class

  * 10.15. "distutils.debug" — Distutils debug mode

  * 10.16. "distutils.errors" — Distutils exceptions

  * 10.17. "distutils.fancy_getopt" — Wrapper around the standard
    getopt module

  * 10.18. "distutils.filelist" — The FileList class

  * 10.19. "distutils.log" — Simple PEP 282-style logging

  * 10.20. "distutils.spawn" — Spawn a sub-process

  * 10.21. "distutils.sysconfig" — System configuration information

  * 10.22. "distutils.text_file" — The TextFile class

  * 10.23. "distutils.version" — Version number classes

  * 10.24. "distutils.cmd" — Abstract base class for Distutils
    commands

  * 10.25. Creating a new Distutils command

  * 10.26. "distutils.command" — Individual Distutils commands

  * 10.27. "distutils.command.bdist" — Build a binary installer

  * 10.28. "distutils.command.bdist_packager" — Abstract base class
    for packagers

  * 10.29. "distutils.command.bdist_dumb" — Build a “dumb” installer

  * 10.30. "distutils.command.bdist_msi" — Build a Microsoft
    Installer binary package

  * 10.31. "distutils.command.bdist_rpm" — Build a binary
    distribution as a Redhat RPM and SRPM

  * 10.32. "distutils.command.bdist_wininst" — Build a Windows
    installer

  * 10.33. "distutils.command.sdist" — Build a source distribution

  * 10.34. "distutils.command.build" — Build all files of a package

  * 10.35. "distutils.command.build_clib" — Build any C libraries in
    a package

  * 10.36. "distutils.command.build_ext" — Build any extensions in a
    package

  * 10.37. "distutils.command.build_py" — Build the .py/.pyc files
    of a package

  * 10.38. "distutils.command.build_scripts" — Build the scripts of
    a package

  * 10.39. "distutils.command.clean" — Clean a package build area

  * 10.40. "distutils.command.config" — Perform package
    configuration

  * 10.41. "distutils.command.install" — Install a package

  * 10.42. "distutils.command.install_data" — Install data files
    from a package

  * 10.43. "distutils.command.install_headers" — Install C/C++
    header files from a package

  * 10.44. "distutils.command.install_lib" — Install library files
    from a package

  * 10.45. "distutils.command.install_scripts" — Install script
    files from a package

  * 10.46. "distutils.command.register" — Register a module with the
    Python Package Index

  * 10.47. "distutils.command.check" — Check the meta-data of a
    package