Deprecation question

[arcivanov]

I just would like to clarify if there is a deadline for when python setup.py <arbitrary-command> is expected to stop working.

As I understand python -m build [--sdist|--wheel] are the only commands that will remain functioning for packaging mapping to sdist and bdist_wheel respectively.

Anybody can provider an authoritative answer?

[webknjaz]

Might be anytime. It was being actively discouraged since at least 2020. Passively — another half a decade before that. Also, unless you really need only one of the dists, don't pass those args to pypa/build.

[arcivanov]

Might be anytime.

😄 That's the amount of "clarity" I've already possessed before you've answered the question. I was looking for a precise deprecation timeline.

Also, unless you really need only one of the dists, don't pass those args to pypa/build.

Thanks for your suggestion but with setuptools.build_meta running --sdist and --wheel produces different results than when running without specifying them, i.e. those are two different types of builds. For karellen/wheel_axle the difference is relevant.

[webknjaz]

The difference is only visible if you forget to include everything in sdist. W/o args, build does what pip install would do when presented with an sdist. Otherwise, you're very likely producing incomplete sdists.

[abravalheri]

The level of commitment setuptools is able to provide right now is described in https://setuptools.pypa.io/en/latest/userguide/interfaces.html

Unfortunately we cannot commit beyond that, given the volunteer characteristics of the work.

I was looking for a precise deprecation timeline.
Anybody can provider an authoritative answer?

We are not able to provide you that.

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Thanks for your suggestion but with setuptools.build_meta running --sdist and --wheel produces different results than when running without specifying them, i.e. those are two different types of builds. For karellen/wheel_axle the difference is relevant.

If you want to maximise consistency and don't have stringent requirements in build time, the overall recommendation of the community is to not include either --sdist or --wheel, as per the reasons webknjaz kindly described in #5071 (reply in thread).

Without --wheel and --sdist, build will first produce a sdist and then a wheel from that sdist (not from the original directory). So that is the most reliable way to ensure all the build is configured correctly.