How to properly package/distribute a pure python module?

[Christopher Blunck]

MatthewS at HeyAnita.com (Matt Shomphe) wrote in message news:<5ab0af73.0307281045.6cb13cfe at posting.google.com>...
> Are there any guidelines for packaging a pure python module? 
> Specifically, say I have a set of 10 functions, all of varying
> behaviors (no unifying theme to bind them together into clear
> subsets), that I would like to make available to others.  What is the
> best structure for the distributed module?  A single file called
> "functions.py" that people can put in "site-packages"[1]?  A
> subdirectory called "MyFunctions" with an "__init__.py" and the
> "functions.py" files[2]?  Or should the functions be broken out into
> individual files[3]?
> 
> I'm sure it depends on some other factorsbut are there general rules
> for constructing a nice, logical package for others to use?
> 
> [1] site-packages/functions.py (from functions import f1)
> [2] site-packages/MyFunctions/functions.py, __init__.py (from
> MyFunctions.functions import f1)
> [3] site-packages/MyFunctions/__init__.py, f1.py, f2.py, f3.py (from
> MyFunctions.f1 import f1)


Do a google search for the distutils module.  For examples, look at
any python project (ZSI or SOAPpy for example), and take a look at the
setup.py.

The gist of it is that you define a setup.py module that defines which
modules are to be included in the distro.  A user, when they download
your tarball, goes into your directory and (as root): "python setup.py
install".

Once you have your app in distutils compatible format, you can use
distutils to generate .exe installs, rpm installs, tarball downloads,
etc etc etc.

So definitely take a look at distutils.  :)


-c