build

build is a Python packaging and build frontend. It reads project settings from pyproject.toml, invokes a PEP 517 compilant build backend, and creates wheel files and source distributions.

Installation and Setup

Install build from Python Package Index (PyPI):

Shell 
$ python -m pip install build

Key Features

  • Acts as a PEP 517 build frontend, working with any compliant backend.
  • Builds in isolated environments by default and installs only declared build requirements.
  • Provides a minimal, backend-agnostic interface centered on python -m build and the pyproject-build script.
  • Generates both sdists and wheels and writes them to dist/ by default.
  • Supports passing backend configuration with -C/--config-setting or --config-json to customize builds without backend-specific commands.

Usage

Set the build backend:

TOML pyproject.toml 
[build-system]
requires = ["setuptools >= 77.0.3"]
build-backend = "setuptools.build_meta"

# ...

Build both a sdist and a wheel:

Shell 
$ python -m build

Build only a wheel:

Shell 
$ python -m build --wheel

Build only a source distribution:

Shell 
$ python -m build --sdist