setup.cfg vs setuptools

Developers should use setup meets developers should learn setuptools when creating python libraries or applications that need to be shared or installed via pip, as it is the standard tool for python packaging and integrates with pypi. Here's our take.

setup.cfg

Nice Pick

Developers should use setup

Pros

• cfg when building Python packages to ensure consistent and reproducible builds, as it separates configuration from executable code, reducing errors and improving maintainability
• Related to: python, setuptools

Cons

• Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

setuptools

Developers should learn setuptools when creating Python libraries or applications that need to be shared or installed via pip, as it is the standard tool for Python packaging and integrates with PyPI

Pros

• It is essential for automating build processes, specifying dependencies, and ensuring cross-platform compatibility in professional Python development workflows
• Related to: python, pip

Cons

• Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

The Verdict

Use setup.cfg if: You want cfg when building python packages to ensure consistent and reproducible builds, as it separates configuration from executable code, reducing errors and improving maintainability and can live with specific tradeoffs depend on your use case.

Use setuptools if: You prioritize it is essential for automating build processes, specifying dependencies, and ensuring cross-platform compatibility in professional python development workflows over what setup.cfg offers.

The Bottom Line

setup.cfg wins

Developers should use setup