Welcome

Thank you for purchasing the MEAP of Publishing Python Packages. Your participation and support will be a big part of making the book as effective as possible for those looking to create and publish great Python packages!

Python packaging has historically been criticized, but with advancements over the past few years the story around it has improved significantly. Many people still haven’t caught up to what’s available and how it works, so this book is a chance to bring people together on the same page.

Whether you’re brand new to Python packaging or you already maintain a package or two, there’s something in this book for you. Although it covers some of the underpinnings of packaging, it also covers practical aspects of sustainable maintainership. After all, packaging is a means to an end—sharing valuable code with others. Understanding the core concepts of packaging, practicing with them, and then automating them to get them out of the way until you need to change them will help you focus on the real value you’re giving others.

Packaging is a huge topic, and with this book I hope to cover in depth the right mix of parts to give most people a boost in productivity. You can help me best by telling me about your use cases, scenarios, and challenges in creating packages. If something isn’t covered in the book but seems like a common problem, it’s good evidence to support including it!

By the end of this book, you’ll learn to: