Understanding PEP 517: A New Era for Python Packaging
PEP 517 – A build-system independent format for source trees | peps.python.org 🔗
PEP 517 introduces a build-system independent format for Python source trees, addressing limitations of existing tools like distutils and setuptools. It establishes a standardized interface that allows various build backends to interact with installation tools, such as pip, by using a pyproject.toml file to define build requirements and backends. The proposal aims to simplify package building and installation processes, enabling users to adopt alternative build systems without being constrained by legacy formats. By outlining mandatory and optional hooks for building wheels and source distributions, PEP 517 facilitates a more flexible and modular approach to Python packaging.
- Introduces a new format for Python source trees.
- Aims to replace limitations of distutils/setuptools.
- Standardizes the way build backends interact with installation tools.
- Allows for easier adoption of alternative build systems.
- Defines mandatory and optional hooks for building packages.
What is the purpose of PEP 517?
PEP 517 aims to create a build-system independent format for Python source trees, allowing easier integration of various build backends and simplifying the installation process.
How does PEP 517 improve upon existing packaging tools?
It addresses limitations of distutils and setuptools by providing a standardized interface, enabling better dependency management and reducing the complexity of using alternative build systems.
What role does the pyproject.toml file play in PEP 517?
The pyproject.toml file is used to define build requirements and specify the build backend for a project, allowing installation tools to interact with the package source trees effectively.