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When I run python setup.py install django, it generates an egg file.

What is the usefulness of Python egg files?

Michael Petrotta
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zjm1126
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2 Answers2

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The "egg" is Python's binary distribution format. It's basically a zipped file with some extra metadata that you can give another Python user. He can "install" and use them. For details on what they are, please refer to http://peak.telecommunity.com/DevCenter/PythonEggs. Since it's a "native" format, Python can employ custom importers and the like.

For details on how to use them, check this out.

I've been out of touch with the packaging world for a while now. There was some talk of discontinuing support for binary distribution formats. The relevant documents that I know of are at http://bitbucket.org/tarek/distutils2/src/tip/docs/design/wiki.rst

Noufal Ibrahim
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the egg file is an archive which holds a module (django in your case) and gives you the ability to import something_from_egg. Read more here

Gabi Purcaru
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