Python Pypi Package Builder
GitHubOfficialFirst committed by Dhruvpatel004Distributed by GitHub
- Skill
- Workflow
- Software development
- MIT
- Low risk
- Has scripts
AutoGineer summary
Written by AutoGineer from the skill’s own files, not by the author
This skill provides an end-to-end framework for the entire Python packaging lifecycle. It covers selecting build backends (setuptools, hatchling, flit, poetry), configuring project structures, implementing robust versioning strategies, and setting up automated CI/CD pipelines. It emphasizes modern standards including PEP 440, PEP 561 type hints, and Trusted Publishing for secure PyPI releases.
What it does
- Generates complete project directory layouts with a single command.
- Configures pyproject.toml for various build backends and dependency management.
- Implements automated versioning using git tags via setuptools_scm.
- Sets up GitHub Actions for automated linting, testing, and PyPI publishing.
- Provides patterns for SOLID design, type hinting, and plugin architectures.
- Guides the user through the PyPA packaging flow from local build to release.
When to use it
- When starting a new Python library, SDK, or CLI tool from scratch.
- When refactoring an existing project to follow modern packaging standards.
- When you need to set up automated CI/CD and PyPI publishing pipelines.
- When you need guidance on choosing the right build backend for your project requirements.
Advantages
- Standardizes project structure and configuration across different libraries.
- Reduces manual overhead in versioning and release management.
- Ensures high code quality through integrated linting, typing, and testing.
- Promotes secure publishing practices using OIDC Trusted Publishing.
Usage examples
- “I want to start a new Python SDK project. How should I structure it?”
- The agent will guide you through selecting the src/ layout, choosing a build backend, and using the scaffold script to generate the initial files.
- “How do I set up my Python library to publish to PyPI automatically?”
- The agent will provide the necessary GitHub Actions configuration for Trusted Publishing and explain the required git-tagging release workflow.
Install
Download the skill as a ZIP:
https://mp-staging.autogineer.com/agent-skills/github/python-pypi-package-builder/downloadUnzip it into the cross-client skills folder of your project:
mkdir -p .agents/skills && unzip python-pypi-package-builder.zip -d .agents/skills
Documentation by Dhruvpatel004
Python PyPI Package Builder Skill
A complete, battle-tested guide for building, testing, linting, versioning, typing, and publishing a production-grade Python library to PyPI — from first commit to community-ready release.
AI Agent Instruction: Read this entire file before writing a single line of code or creating any file. Every decision — layout, backend, versioning strategy, patterns, CI — has a decision rule here. Follow the decision trees in order. This skill applies to any Python package type (utility, SDK, CLI, plugin, data library). Do not skip sections.
Quick Navigation
| Section in this file | What it covers |
|---|---|
| 1. Skill Trigger | When to load this skill |
| 2. Package Type Decision | Identify what you are building |
| 3. Folder Structure Decision | src/ vs flat vs monorepo |
| 4. Build Backend Decision | setuptools / hatchling / flit / poetry |
| 5. PyPA Packaging Flow | The canonical publish pipeline |
| 6. Project Structure Templates | Full layouts for every option |
| 7. Versioning Strategy | PEP 440, semver, dynamic vs static |
| Reference file | What it covers |
|---|---|
references/pyproject-toml.md | All four backend templates, setuptools_scm, py.typed, tool configs |
references/library-patterns.md | OOP/SOLID, type hints, core class design, factory, protocols, CLI |
references/testing-quality.md | conftest.py, unit/backend/async tests, ruff/mypy/pre-commit |
references/ci-publishing.md | ci.yml, publish.yml, Trusted Publishing, TestPyPI, CHANGELOG, release checklist |
references/community-docs.md | README, docstrings, CONTRIBUTING, SECURITY, anti-patterns, master checklist |
references/architecture-patterns.md | Backend system (plugin/strategy), config layer, transport layer, CLI, backend injection |
references/versioning-strategy.md | PEP 440, SemVer, pre-release, setuptools_scm deep-dive, flit static, decision engine |
references/release-governance.md | Branch strategy, branch protection, OIDC, tag author validation, prevent invalid tags |
references/tooling-ruff.md | Ruff-only setup (replaces black/isort), mypy config, pre-commit, asyncio_mode=auto |
Scaffold script: run python skills/python-pypi-package-builder/scripts/scaffold.py --name your-package-name
to generate the entire directory layout, stub files, and pyproject.toml in one command.
1. Skill Trigger
Load this skill whenever the user wants to:
Create, scaffold, or publish a Python package or library to PyPI
Build a pip-installable SDK, utility, CLI tool, or framework extension
Set up
pyproject.toml, linting, mypy, pre-commit, or GitHub Actions for a Python projectUnderstand versioning (
setuptools_scm, PEP 440, semver, static versioning)Understand PyPA specs:
py.typed,MANIFEST.in,RECORD, classifiersPublish to PyPI using Trusted Publishing (OIDC) or API tokens
Refactor an existing package to follow modern Python packaging standards
Add type hints, protocols, ABCs, or dataclasses to a Python library
Apply OOP/SOLID design patterns to a Python package
Choose between build backends (setuptools, hatchling, flit, poetry)
Also trigger for phrases like: "build a Python SDK", "publish my library", "set up PyPI CI", "create a pip package", "how do I publish to PyPI", "pyproject.toml help", "PEP 561 typed", "setuptools_scm version", "semver Python", "PEP 440", "git tag release", "Trusted Publishing".
2. Package Type Decision
Identify what the user is building before writing any code. Each type has distinct patterns.
Decision Table
| Type | Core Pattern | Entry Point | Key Deps | Example Packages |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Utility library | Module of pure functions + helpers | Import API only | Minimal | arrow, humanize, boltons, more-itertools |
| API client / SDK | Class with methods, auth, retry logic | Import API only | httpx or requests | boto3, stripe-python, openai |
| CLI tool | Command functions + argument parser | [project.scripts] or [project.entry-points] | click or typer | black, ruff, httpie, rich |
| Framework plugin | Plugin class, hook registration | [project.entry-points."framework.plugin"] | Framework dep | pytest-*, django-*, flask-* |
| Data processing library | Classes + functional pipeline | Import API only | Optional: numpy, pandas | pydantic, marshmallow, cerberus |
| Mixed / generic | Combination of above | Varies | Varies | Many real-world packages |
Decision Rule: Ask the user if unclear. A package can combine types (e.g., SDK with a CLI entry point) — use the primary type for structural decisions and add secondary type patterns on top.
For implementation patterns of each type, see references/library-patterns.md.
Package Naming Rules
PyPI name: all lowercase, hyphens —
my-python-libraryPython import name: underscores —
my_python_libraryCheck availability: https://pypi.org/search/ before starting
Avoid shadowing popular packages (verify
pip install <name>fails first)
3. Folder Structure Decision
Decision Tree
Does the package have 5+ internal modules OR multiple contributors OR complex sub-packages?
├── YES → Use src/ layout
│ Reason: prevents accidental import of uninstalled code during development;
│ separates source from project root files; PyPA-recommended for large projects.
│
├── NO → Is it a single-module, focused package (e.g., one file + helpers)?
│ ├── YES → Use flat layout
│ └── NO (medium complexity) → Use flat layout, migrate to src/ if it grows
│
└── Is it multiple related packages under one namespace (e.g., myorg.http, myorg.db)?
└── YES → Use namespace/monorepo layoutQuick Rule Summary
| Situation | Use |
|---|---|
| New project, unknown future size | src/ layout (safest default) |
| Single-purpose, 1–4 modules | Flat layout |
| Large library, many contributors | src/ layout |
| Multiple packages in one repo | Namespace / monorepo |
| Migrating old flat project | Keep flat; migrate to src/ at next major version |
4. Build Backend Decision
Decision Tree
Does the user need version derived automatically from git tags?
├── YES → Use setuptools + setuptools_scm
│ (git tag v1.0.0 → that IS your release workflow)
│
└── NO → Does the user want an all-in-one tool (deps + build + publish)?
├── YES → Use poetry (v2+ supports standard [project] table)
│
└── NO → Is the package pure Python with no C extensions?
├── YES, minimal config preferred → Use flit
│ (zero config, auto-discovers version from __version__)
│
└── YES, modern & fast preferred → Use hatchling
(zero-config, plugin system, no setup.py needed)
Does the package have C/Cython/Fortran extensions?
└── YES → MUST use setuptools (only backend with full native extension support)Backend Comparison
| Backend | Version source | Config | C extensions | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
setuptools + setuptools_scm | git tags (automatic) | pyproject.toml + optional setup.py shim | Yes | Projects with git-tag releases; any complexity |
hatchling | manual or plugin | pyproject.toml only | No | New pure-Python projects; fast, modern |
flit | __version__ in __init__.py | pyproject.toml only | No | Very simple, single-module packages |
poetry | pyproject.toml field | pyproject.toml only | No | Teams wanting integrated dep management |
For all four complete pyproject.toml templates, see references/pyproject-toml.md.
5. PyPA Packaging Flow
This is the canonical end-to-end flow from source code to user install. Every step must be understood before publishing.
1. SOURCE TREE
Your code in version control (git)
└── pyproject.toml describes metadata + build system
2. BUILD
python -m build
└── Produces two artifacts in dist/:
├── *.tar.gz → source distribution (sdist)
└── *.whl → built distribution (wheel) — preferred by pip
3. VALIDATE
twine check dist/*
└── Checks metadata, README rendering, and PyPI compatibility
4. TEST PUBLISH (first release only)
twine upload --repository testpypi dist/*
└── Verify: pip install --index-url https://test.pypi.org/simple/ your-package
5. PUBLISH
twine upload dist/* ← manual fallback
OR GitHub Actions publish.yml ← recommended (Trusted Publishing / OIDC)
6. USER INSTALL
pip install your-package
pip install "your-package[extra]"Key PyPA Concepts
| Concept | What it means |
|---|---|
| sdist | Source distribution — your source + metadata; used when no wheel is available |
| wheel (.whl) | Pre-built binary — pip extracts directly into site-packages; no build step |
| PEP 517/518 | Standard build system interface via pyproject.toml [build-system] table |
| PEP 621 | Standard [project] table in pyproject.toml; all modern backends support it |
| PEP 639 | license key as SPDX string (e.g., "MIT", "Apache-2.0") — not {text = "MIT"} |
| PEP 561 | py.typed empty marker file — tells mypy/IDEs this package ships type information |
For complete CI workflow and publishing setup, see references/ci-publishing.md.
6. Project Structure Templates
A. src/ Layout (Recommended default for new projects)
your-package/
├── src/
│ └── your_package/
│ ├── __init__.py # Public API: __all__, __version__
│ ├── py.typed # PEP 561 marker — EMPTY FILE
│ ├── core.py # Primary implementation
│ ├── client.py # (API client type) or remove
│ ├── cli.py # (CLI type) click/typer commands, or remove
│ ├── config.py # Settings / configuration dataclass
│ ├── exceptions.py # Custom exception hierarchy
│ ├── models.py # Data classes, Pydantic models, TypedDicts
│ ├── utils.py # Internal helpers (prefix _utils if private)
│ ├── types.py # Shared type aliases and TypeVars
│ └── backends/ # (Plugin pattern) — remove if not needed
│ ├── __init__.py # Protocol / ABC interface definition
│ ├── memory.py # Default zero-dep implementation
│ └── redis.py # Optional heavy implementation
├── tests/
│ ├── __init__.py
│ ├── conftest.py # Shared fixtures
│ ├── unit/
│ │ ├── __init__.py
│ │ ├── test_core.py
│ │ ├── test_config.py
│ │ └── test_models.py
│ ├── integration/
│ │ ├── __init__.py
│ │ └── test_backends.py
│ └── e2e/ # Optional: end-to-end tests
│ └── __init__.py
├── docs/ # Optional: mkdocs or sphinx
├── scripts/
│ └── scaffold.py
├── .github/
│ ├── workflows/
│ │ ├── ci.yml
│ │ └── publish.yml
│ └── ISSUE_TEMPLATE/
│ ├── bug_report.md
│ └── feature_request.md
├── .pre-commit-config.yaml
├── pyproject.toml
├── CHANGELOG.md
├── CONTRIBUTING.md
├── SECURITY.md
├── LICENSE
├── README.md
└── .gitignoreB. Flat Layout (Small / focused packages)
your-package/
├── your_package/ # ← at root, not inside src/
│ ├── __init__.py
│ ├── py.typed
│ └── ... (same internal structure)
├── tests/
└── ... (same top-level files)C. Namespace / Monorepo Layout (Multiple related packages)
your-org/
├── packages/
│ ├── your-org-core/
│ │ ├── src/your_org/core/
│ │ └── pyproject.toml
│ ├── your-org-http/
│ │ ├── src/your_org/http/
│ │ └── pyproject.toml
│ └── your-org-cli/
│ ├── src/your_org/cli/
│ └── pyproject.toml
├── .github/workflows/
└── README.mdEach sub-package has its own pyproject.toml. They share the your_org namespace via PEP 420
implicit namespace packages (no __init__.py in the namespace root).
Internal Module Guidelines
| File | Purpose | When to include |
|---|---|---|
__init__.py | Public API surface; re-exports; __version__ | Always |
py.typed | PEP 561 typed-package marker (empty) | Always |
core.py | Primary class / main logic | Always |
config.py | Settings dataclass or Pydantic model | When configurable |
exceptions.py | Exception hierarchy (YourBaseError → specifics) | Always |
models.py | Data models / DTOs / TypedDicts | When data-heavy |
utils.py | Internal helpers (not part of public API) | As needed |
types.py | Shared TypeVar, TypeAlias, Protocol definitions | When complex typing |
cli.py | CLI entry points (click/typer) | CLI type only |
backends/ | Plugin/strategy pattern | When swappable implementations |
_compat.py | Python version compatibility shims | When 3.9–3.13 compat needed |
7. Versioning Strategy
PEP 440 — The Standard
Canonical form: N[.N]+[{a|b|rc}N][.postN][.devN]
Examples:
1.0.0 Stable release
1.0.0a1 Alpha (pre-release)
1.0.0b2 Beta
1.0.0rc1 Release candidate
1.0.0.post1 Post-release (e.g., packaging fix only)
1.0.0.dev1 Development snapshot (not for PyPI)Semantic Versioning (recommended)
MAJOR.MINOR.PATCH
MAJOR: Breaking API change (remove/rename public function/class/arg)
MINOR: New feature, fully backward-compatible
PATCH: Bug fix, no API changeDynamic versioning with setuptools_scm (recommended for git-tag workflows)
# How it works:
git tag v1.0.0 → installed version = 1.0.0
git tag v1.1.0 → installed version = 1.1.0
(commits after tag) → version = 1.1.0.post1 (suffix stripped for PyPI)
# In code — NEVER hardcode when using setuptools_scm:
from importlib.metadata import version, PackageNotFoundError
try:
__version__ = version("your-package")
except PackageNotFoundError:
__version__ = "0.0.0-dev" # Fallback for uninstalled dev checkoutsRequired pyproject.toml config:
[tool.setuptools_scm]
version_scheme = "post-release"
local_scheme = "no-local-version" # Prevents +g<hash> from breaking PyPI uploadsCritical: always set fetch-depth: 0 in every CI checkout step. Without full git history,
setuptools_scm cannot find tags and the build version silently falls back to 0.0.0+dev.
Static versioning (flit, hatchling manual, poetry)
# your_package/__init__.py
__version__ = "1.0.0" # Update this before every releaseVersion specifier best practices for dependencies
# In [project] dependencies:
"httpx>=0.24" # Minimum version — PREFERRED for libraries
"httpx>=0.24,<1.0" # Upper bound only when a known breaking change exists
"httpx==0.27.0" # Pin exactly ONLY in applications, NOT libraries
# NEVER do this in a library — it breaks dependency resolution for users:
# "httpx~=0.24.0" # Too tight
# "httpx==0.27.*" # FragileVersion bump → release flow
# 1. Update CHANGELOG.md — move [Unreleased] entries to [x.y.z] - YYYY-MM-DD
# 2. Commit the changelog
git add CHANGELOG.md
git commit -m "chore: prepare release vX.Y.Z"
# 3. Tag and push — this triggers publish.yml automatically
git tag vX.Y.Z
git push origin main --tags
# 4. Monitor GitHub Actions → verify on https://pypi.org/project/your-package/For complete pyproject.toml templates for all four backends, see references/pyproject-toml.md.
Where to Go Next
After understanding decisions and structure:
Set up
pyproject.toml→references/pyproject-toml.mdAll four backend templates (setuptools+scm, hatchling, flit, poetry), full tool configs,py.typedsetup, versioning config.Write your library code →
references/library-patterns.mdOOP/SOLID principles, type hints (PEP 484/526/544/561), core class design, factory functions,__init__.py, plugin/backend pattern, CLI entry point.Add tests and code quality →
references/testing-quality.mdconftest.py, unit/backend/async tests, parametrize, ruff/mypy/pre-commit setup.Set up CI/CD and publish →
references/ci-publishing.mdci.yml,publish.ymlwith Trusted Publishing (OIDC, no API tokens), CHANGELOG format, release checklist.Polish for community/OSS →
references/community-docs.mdREADME sections, docstring format, CONTRIBUTING, SECURITY, issue templates, anti-patterns table, and master release checklist.Design backends, config, transport, CLI →
references/architecture-patterns.mdBackend system (plugin/strategy pattern), Settings dataclass, HTTP transport layer, CLI with click/typer, backend injection rules.Choose and implement a versioning strategy →
references/versioning-strategy.mdPEP 440 canonical forms, SemVer rules, pre-release identifiers, setuptools_scm deep-dive, flit static versioning, decision engine (DEFAULT/BEGINNER/MINIMAL).Govern releases and secure the publish pipeline →
references/release-governance.mdBranch strategy, branch protection rules, OIDC Trusted Publishing setup, tag author validation in CI, tag format enforcement, full governedpublish.yml.Simplify tooling with Ruff →
references/tooling-ruff.mdRuff-only setup replacing black/isort/flake8, mypy config, pre-commit hooks, asyncio_mode=auto (remove @pytest.mark.asyncio), migration guide.
Files
- ATTRIBUTION.mdAdded by AutoGineer897 B
- LICENSELicence file added by AutoGineer1.0 KiB
- SKILL.md18.7 KiB
- references/architecture-patterns.md15.8 KiB
- references/ci-publishing.md7.9 KiB
- references/community-docs.md13.0 KiB
- references/library-patterns.md17.7 KiB
- references/pyproject-toml.md13.0 KiB
- references/release-governance.md10.4 KiB
- references/testing-quality.md6.4 KiB
- references/tooling-ruff.md9.2 KiB
- references/versioning-strategy.md10.9 KiB
- scripts/scaffold.pyScript22.0 KiB
references/versioning-strategy.md
Versioning Strategy — PEP 440, SemVer, and Decision Engine
Table of Contents
PEP 440 — The Standard
Semantic Versioning (SemVer)
Pre-release Identifiers
Versioning Decision Engine
Dynamic Versioning — setuptools_scm (Recommended)
Hatchling with hatch-vcs Plugin
Static Versioning — flit
Static Versioning — hatchling manual
DO NOT Hardcode Version (except flit)
Dependency Version Specifiers
PyPA Release Commands
1. PEP 440 — The Standard
All Python package versions must comply with PEP 440.
Non-compliant versions (e.g., 1.0-beta, 2023.1.1.dev) will be rejected by PyPI.
Canonical form: N[.N]+[{a|b|rc}N][.postN][.devN]
1.0.0 Stable release
1.0.0a1 Alpha pre-release
1.0.0b2 Beta pre-release
1.0.0rc1 Release candidate
1.0.0.post1 Post-release (packaging fix; same codebase)
1.0.0.dev1 Development snapshot — DO NOT upload to PyPI
2.0.0 Major release (breaking changes)Epoch prefix (rare)
1!1.0.0 Epoch 1; used when you need to skip ahead of an old schemeUse epochs only as a last resort to fix a broken version sequence.
2. Semantic Versioning (SemVer)
SemVer maps cleanly onto PEP 440. Always use MAJOR.MINOR.PATCH:
MAJOR Increment when you make incompatible API changes (rename, remove, break)
MINOR Increment when you add functionality backward-compatibly (new features)
PATCH Increment when you make backward-compatible bug fixes
Examples:
1.0.0 → 1.0.1 Bug fix, no API change
1.0.0 → 1.1.0 New method added; existing API intact
1.0.0 → 2.0.0 Public method renamed or removedWhat counts as a breaking change?
| Change | Breaking? |
|---|---|
| Rename a public function | YES — MAJOR |
| Remove a parameter | YES — MAJOR |
| Add a required parameter | YES — MAJOR |
| Add an optional parameter with a default | NO — MINOR |
| Add a new function/class | NO — MINOR |
| Fix a bug | NO — PATCH |
| Update a dependency lower bound | NO (usually) — PATCH |
| Update a dependency upper bound (breaking) | YES — MAJOR |
3. Pre-release Identifiers
Use pre-release versions to get user feedback before a stable release.
Pre-releases are not installed by default by pip (pip install pkg skips them).
Users must opt-in: pip install "pkg==2.0.0a1" or pip install --pre pkg.
1.0.0a1 Alpha-1: very early; expect bugs; API may change
1.0.0b1 Beta-1: feature-complete; API stabilising; seek broader feedback
1.0.0rc1 Release candidate: code-frozen; final testing before stable
1.0.0 Stable: ready for productionIncrement rule
Start: 1.0.0a1
More alphas: 1.0.0a2, 1.0.0a3
Move to beta: 1.0.0b1 (reset counter)
Move to RC: 1.0.0rc1
Stable: 1.0.04. Versioning Decision Engine
Use this decision tree to pick the right versioning strategy before writing any code.
Is the project using git and tagging releases with version tags?
├── YES → setuptools + setuptools_scm (DEFAULT — best for most projects)
│ Git tag v1.0.0 becomes the installed version automatically.
│ Zero manual version bumping.
│
└── NO — Is the project a simple, single-module library with infrequent releases?
├── YES → flit
│ Set __version__ = "1.0.0" in __init__.py.
│ Update manually before each release.
│
└── NO — Does the team want an integrated build + dep management tool?
├── YES → poetry
│ Manage version in [tool.poetry] version field.
│
└── NO → hatchling (modern, fast, pure-Python)
Use hatch-vcs plugin for dynamic versioning
or set version manually in [project].
Does the package have C/Cython/Fortran extensions?
└── YES (always) → setuptools (only backend with native extension support)Summary Table
| Backend | Version source | Best for |
|---|---|---|
setuptools + setuptools_scm | Git tags — fully automatic | DEFAULT for new projects |
hatchling + hatch-vcs | Git tags — automatic via plugin | hatchling users |
flit | __version__ in __init__.py | Very simple, minimal config |
poetry | [tool.poetry] version field | Integrated dep + build management |
hatchling manual | [project] version field | One-off static versioning |
5. Dynamic Versioning — setuptools_scm (Recommended)
setuptools_scm reads the current git tag and computes the version at build time.
No separate __version__ update step — just tag and push.
pyproject.toml configuration
[build-system]
requires = ["setuptools>=70", "setuptools_scm>=8"]
build-backend = "setuptools.backends.legacy:build"
[project]
name = "your-package"
dynamic = ["version"]
[tool.setuptools_scm]
version_scheme = "post-release"
local_scheme = "no-local-version" # Prevents +g<hash> from breaking PyPI__init__.py — correct version access
# your_package/__init__.py
from importlib.metadata import version, PackageNotFoundError
try:
__version__ = version("your-package")
except PackageNotFoundError:
# Package is not installed (running from a source checkout without pip install -e .)
__version__ = "0.0.0.dev0"
__all__ = ["__version__"]How the version is computed
git tag v1.0.0 → installed_version = "1.0.0"
3 commits after v1.0.0 → installed_version = "1.0.0.post3+g<hash>" (dev only)
git tag v1.1.0 → installed_version = "1.1.0"With local_scheme = "no-local-version", the +g<hash> suffix is stripped for PyPI
uploads while still being visible locally.
Critical CI requirement
- uses: actions/checkout@v4
with:
fetch-depth: 0 # REQUIRED — without this, git has no tag history
# setuptools_scm falls back to 0.0.0+d<date> silentlyEvery CI job that installs or builds the package must have fetch-depth: 0.
Debugging version issues
# Check what version setuptools_scm would produce right now:
python -m setuptools_scm
# If you see 0.0.0+d... it means:
# 1. No tags reachable from HEAD, OR
# 2. fetch-depth: 0 was not set in CI6. Hatchling with hatch-vcs Plugin
An alternative to setuptools_scm for teams already using hatchling.
[build-system]
requires = ["hatchling", "hatch-vcs"]
build-backend = "hatchling.build"
[project]
name = "your-package"
dynamic = ["version"]
[tool.hatch.version]
source = "vcs"
[tool.hatch.build.hooks.vcs]
version-file = "src/your_package/_version.py"Access the version the same way as setuptools_scm:
from importlib.metadata import version, PackageNotFoundError
try:
__version__ = version("your-package")
except PackageNotFoundError:
__version__ = "0.0.0.dev0"7. Static Versioning — flit
Use flit only for simple, single-module packages where manual version bumping is acceptable.
pyproject.toml
[build-system]
requires = ["flit_core>=3.9"]
build-backend = "flit_core.buildapi"
[project]
name = "your-package"
dynamic = ["version", "description"]__init__.py
"""your-package — a focused, single-purpose utility."""
__version__ = "1.2.0" # flit reads this; update manually before each releaseflit exception: this is the ONLY case where hardcoding __version__ is correct.
flit discovers the version by importing __init__.py and reading __version__.
Release flow for flit
# 1. Bump __version__ in __init__.py
# 2. Update CHANGELOG.md
# 3. Commit
git add src/your_package/__init__.py CHANGELOG.md
git commit -m "chore: release v1.2.0"
# 4. Tag (flit can also publish directly)
git tag v1.2.0
git push origin v1.2.0
# 5. Build and publish
flit publish
# OR
python -m build && twine upload dist/*8. Static Versioning — hatchling manual
[build-system]
requires = ["hatchling"]
build-backend = "hatchling.build"
[project]
name = "your-package"
version = "1.0.0" # Manual; update before each releaseUpdate version in pyproject.toml before every release. No __version__ required
(access via importlib.metadata.version() as usual).
9. DO NOT Hardcode Version (except flit)
Hardcoding __version__ in __init__.py when not using flit creates a dual source of
truth that diverges over time.
# BAD — when using setuptools_scm, hatchling, or poetry:
__version__ = "1.0.0" # gets stale; diverges from the installed package version
# GOOD — works for all backends except flit:
from importlib.metadata import version, PackageNotFoundError
try:
__version__ = version("your-package")
except PackageNotFoundError:
__version__ = "0.0.0.dev0"10. Dependency Version Specifiers
Pick the right specifier style to avoid poisoning your users' environments.
# [project] dependencies — library best practices:
"httpx>=0.24" # Minimum only — PREFERRED; lets users upgrade freely
"httpx>=0.24,<2.0" # Upper bound only when a known breaking change exists in next major
"requests>=2.28,<3.0" # Acceptable for well-known major-version breaks
# Application / CLI (pinning is fine):
"httpx==0.27.2" # Lock exact version for reproducible deploys
# NEVER in a library:
# "httpx~=0.24.0" # Too tight; blocks minor upgrades
# "httpx==0.27.*" # Not valid PEP 440
# "httpx" # No constraint; fragile against future breakage11. PyPA Release Commands
The canonical sequence from code to user install.
# Step 1: Tag the release (triggers CI publish.yml automatically if configured)
git tag -a v1.2.3 -m "Release v1.2.3"
git push origin v1.2.3
# Step 2 (manual fallback only): Build locally
python -m build
# Produces:
# dist/your_package-1.2.3.tar.gz (sdist)
# dist/your_package-1.2.3-py3-none-any.whl (wheel)
# Step 3: Validate
twine check dist/*
# Step 4: Test on TestPyPI first (first release or major change)
twine upload --repository testpypi dist/*
pip install --index-url https://test.pypi.org/simple/ --extra-index-url https://pypi.org/simple/ your-package==1.2.3
# Step 5: Publish to production PyPI
twine upload dist/*
# OR via GitHub Actions (recommended):
# push the tag → publish.yml runs → pypa/gh-action-pypi-publish handles upload via OIDC
# Step 6: Verify
pip install your-package==1.2.3
python -c "import your_package; print(your_package.__version__)"Requirements and compatibility
Written for: GitHub Copilot
Works with: Claude Code, Claude apps, OpenAI Codex, GitHub Copilot, Cursor, Gemini CLI, Kiro, OpenCode, Goose, Amp, Roo Code, JetBrains Junie, Factory Droid, Devin (ex-Windsurf), Mistral Vibe, OpenHands, Letta
“Works with” means the tool reads the open Agent Skills format; a skill written for one tool may use features others lack.
Needs: Needs a command-line tool, Needs Python
Security
What our scanner noticed· Low risk
- Instructions that use the network
- Scripts that your agent may run
This skill includes scripts that your agent may run. Read them before you use it.
A static scan is not a guarantee. Skills are third-party content: review a skill before you let an agent use it.
Attribution and licence
- First committed by
Dhruvpatel004
- Publisher
- GitHub (Official)
- Distributed by
- GitHub
- Source
- github/awesome-copilot · skills/python-pypi-package-builder · commit 797337f
- Licence
- MIT License (redistribution allowed)
- LICENSE (added by AutoGineer from LICENSE)
- ATTRIBUTION.md (written by AutoGineer)
- Synced
- Contributors
- Dhruvpatel004
AutoGineer is not affiliated with or endorsed by Dhruvpatel004 or GitHub.
Download ZIP
The ZIP holds the skill’s files, its licence files and an ATTRIBUTION.md. Download python-pypi-package-builder.zip