How to Ensure Your Package Data Is Included in Both Binary and Source Distributions Using setuptools/distutils?

Overcoming Package Data Inclusion Challenges with setuptools/distutils

Incorporating package data into distributable Python packages often presents challenges, particularly when using setuptools or distutils. Despite following conventional wisdom, some users encounter difficulties getting the installer to retrieve the desired files.

Pitfalls of package_data

The configuration provided in the question:

<code class="python">setup(
   name='myapp',
   packages=find_packages(),
   package_data={
      'myapp': ['data/*.txt'],
   },
   include_package_data=True,
   zip_safe=False,
   install_requires=['distribute'],
)</code>

appears correct based on established documentation. However, as the answer astutely points out, this approach falls short when dealing with binary builds (python setup.py bdist ...). The package_data mechanism is not utilized in this scenario.

The Solution: MANIFEST.in

To reliably include package data in both binary and source distributions, the MANIFEST.in file provides a robust alternative. MANIFEST.in is a customizable manifest that explicitly lists the files to be incorporated into the package. By using this method, developers can ensure that all necessary data is present in both installation scenarios.

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