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1.4 Distutils-specific terminology
The following terms apply more specifically to the domain of
distributing Python modules using the Distutils:
<DT><STRONG>module distribution
</STRONG></DT>
<DD>a collection of Python modules distributed
together as a single downloadable resource and meant to be installed
<em>en masse
</em>. Examples of some well-known module distributions are
Numeric Python, PyXML, PIL (the Python Imaging Library), or
mxBase. (This would be called a
<em>package
</em>, except that term
is already taken in the Python context: a single module distribution
may contain zero, one, or many Python packages.)
<DT><STRONG>pure module distribution
</STRONG></DT>
<DD>a module distribution that contains only
pure Python modules and packages. Sometimes referred to as a ``pure
<DT><STRONG>non-pure module distribution
</STRONG></DT>
<DD>a module distribution that contains
at least one extension module. Sometimes referred to as a ``non-pure
<DT><STRONG>distribution root
</STRONG></DT>
<DD>the top-level directory of your source tree (or
source distribution); the directory where
<span class=
"file">setup.py
</span> exists. Generally
<span class=
"file">setup.py
</span> will be run from this directory.
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<span class=
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