nonSetuptools

nonSetuptools is a Python development tool that offers an alternative to the widely used setuptools package for managing Python project packaging and distribution. It aims to simplify the process of creating distributable Python packages, particularly for projects that do not require the full feature set of setuptools. The primary goal of nonSetuptools is to provide a more straightforward and less opinionated approach to defining project metadata and build procedures.

The tool typically relies on a simple configuration file, often named pyproject.toml, to specify project details such as the package name, version, author, and dependencies. Unlike setuptools, which has a long history and a comprehensive, sometimes complex, API, nonSetuptools focuses on a minimal set of configuration options. This can be advantageous for developers who find setuptools overwhelming or are working on simpler projects where advanced features are unnecessary.

nonSetuptools integrates with standard Python packaging tools like pip and build. It allows developers to build source distributions (sdist) and wheels, the two common formats for distributing Python packages. By abstracting away some of the intricacies of the Python packaging ecosystem, nonSetuptools seeks to make the packaging process more accessible to a wider range of Python developers. Its design emphasizes clarity and ease of use, encouraging best practices in package definition without imposing a rigid structure.