pybuild

pybuild [options]

--verbose
    Increase verbosity of the output.

--quiet
    Decrease verbosity of the output.

--no-source
    Do not build the source package.

--sign
    Sign the resulting package(s).

--buildpackage-args
    Pass arguments to dpkg-buildpackage.

The pybuild command is a tool primarily used within Debian-based systems for building Python packages. It automates the process of creating Debian packages from Python source code.

It simplifies tasks such as running tests, installing modules, and generating necessary metadata for Debian packaging. pybuild relies on a 'debian/rules' file which contains the build instructions. The exact build steps are determined by the debian/rules file, which typically leverages other build systems such as setuptools, distutils, or others. pybuild abstracts away much of the complexity involved in creating Debian packages for Python projects, and is commonly used by package maintainers to streamline the building and distribution process of Python software.

The exact behavior of pybuild depends heavily on the contents of the debian/rules file within the source package. Without a well-defined 'debian/rules' file, pybuild will likely fail or produce unexpected results. Also, the available options might vary slightly depending on the specific version of pybuild installed.

Different python build systems may be selected, for example setuptools, distutils, flit, poetry, and others.

The 'debian/rules' file contains the build scripts to create debian packages. The 'debian/rules' needs to be adjusted accordingly for the right build system.

pybuild emerged within the Debian packaging ecosystem as a specialized tool to address the common task of building Python packages. It provides a standardized and automated interface, reducing manual steps. It's evolved alongside Debian's packaging standards and Python's build systems (setuptools, etc.), adapting to changes in both domains to simplify Python package maintenance.

dpkg-buildpackage(1), debuild(1)