What is it?
Distlib is a library which implements low-level functions that relate to packaging and distribution of Python software. It is intended to be used as the basis for third-party packaging tools. The documentation is available at
https://distlib.readthedocs.io/
Main features
Distlib currently offers the following features:
- The package
distlib.database
, which implements a database of installed distributions, as defined by PEP 376, and distribution dependency graph logic. Support is also provided for non-installed distributions (i.e. distributions registered with metadata on an index like PyPI), including the ability to scan for dependencies and building dependency graphs. - The package
distlib.index
, which implements an interface to perform operations on an index, such as registering a project, uploading a distribution or uploading documentation. Support is included for verifying SSL connections (with domain matching) and signing/verifying packages using GnuPG. - The package
distlib.metadata
, which implements distribution metadata as defined by PEP 426, PEP 345, PEP 314 and PEP 241. - The package
distlib.markers
, which implements environment markers as defined by PEP 426. - The package
distlib.manifest
, which implements lists of files used in packaging source distributions. - The package
distlib.locators
, which allows finding distributions, whether on PyPI (XML-RPC or via the "simple" interface), local directories or some other source. - The package
distlib.resources
, which allows access to data files stored in Python packages, both in the file system and in .zip files. - The package
distlib.scripts
, which allows installing of scripts with adjustment of shebang lines and support for native Windows executable launchers. - The package
distlib.version
, which implements version specifiers as defined by PEP 440 / PEP 426, but also support for working with "legacy" versions (setuptools
/distribute
) and semantic versions. - The package
distlib.wheel
, which provides support for building and installing from the Wheel format for binary distributions (see PEP 427). - The package
distlib.util
, which contains miscellaneous functions and classes which are useful in packaging, but which do not fit neatly into one of the other packages indistlib
.* The package implements enhanced globbing functionality such as the ability to use**
in patterns to specify recursing into subdirectories.
Python version and platform compatibility
Distlib is intended to be used on any Python version >= 2.7 and is tested on Python versions 2.7 and 3.3-3.6 on Linux, Windows, and Mac OS X (not all versions are tested on all platforms, but are expected to work correctly).
Project status
The project has reached a mature status in its development: there is a test suite and it has been exercised on Windows, Ubuntu and Mac OS X. The project is used by well-known projects such as pip and caniusepython3.
Code of Conduct
Everyone interacting in the distlib project's codebases, issue trackers, chat rooms, and mailing lists is expected to follow the PyPA Code of Conduct.