build

Spec sheet

Purpose

build is a Python packaging frontend that reads pyproject.toml and invokes build backends to create distribution packages.Read 8 Oct 2026 · build.pypa.io

Product

build is a simple Python packaging frontend that reads pyproject.toml and invokes build backends to create distribution packages.Read 9 Oct 2026 · build.pypa.io

Integrations

The CI/CD guide gives examples for GitHub Actions, GitLab CI, CircleCI, Travis CI, Azure Pipelines, Jenkins, Docker, and tox.Read 9 Oct 2026 · build.pypa.io

Security

The installation guide says attestations are available for releases after 1.2.1 and documents verification with the gh CLI.Read 8 Oct 2026 · build.pypa.io

Support

The project documentation links to its GitHub issue tracker for reporting issues.Read 9 Oct 2026 · build.pypa.io

Attestations

The installation guide says attestations are available for releases after 1.2.1 and can be verified with the GitHub CLI.Read 9 Oct 2026 · build.pypa.io

Backend compatibility

It invokes standardized PEP 517 build backend hooks and supports backends beyond setuptools.Read 9 Oct 2026 · build.pypa.io

Backend support

build uses standardized PEP 517 hooks to communicate with build backends.Read 8 Oct 2026 · build.pypa.io

Build isolation

By default, it creates a temporary isolated virtual environment and installs the build backend and its dependencies there.Read 9 Oct 2026 · build.pypa.io

CI integrations

The CI/CD guide includes setup examples for GitHub Actions, GitLab CI, CircleCI, Travis CI, Azure Pipelines, and Jenkins.Read 8 Oct 2026 · build.pypa.io

Compatibility

The guide lists compatibility with Python 3.10 through 3.14 and PyPy 3.10 and 3.11.Read 9 Oct 2026 · build.pypa.io

Configurable installers

pip is the default installer for isolated builds, and uv is also supported as an installer.Read 8 Oct 2026 · build.pypa.io

Configuration

It supports backend configuration through repeated -C options or --config-json for complex settings.Read 9 Oct 2026 · build.pypa.io

Install options

The official guide recommends installation with uv and also documents pip and pipx.Read 9 Oct 2026 · build.pypa.io

Isolation

Builds use a temporary isolated virtual environment by default, and the environment is removed after the build.Read 8 Oct 2026 · build.pypa.io

Limit

For native wheels across multiple platforms and Python versions, the guide recommends cibuildwheel, which can call a build frontend such as build.Read 8 Oct 2026 · build.pypa.io

Maintainer

The documentation copyright line names Filipe Laíns.Read 9 Oct 2026 · build.pypa.io

Optional extras

Optional virtualenv and uv extras support alternative isolation and installer setups.Read 9 Oct 2026 · build.pypa.io

Outputs

By default, it builds a source distribution and a wheel in the dist/ directory.Read 9 Oct 2026 · build.pypa.io

Private indexes

It can use private package indexes through pip environment variables, and the guide warns that extra indexes can allow package shadowing.Read 9 Oct 2026 · build.pypa.io

Python API

The product provides a Python API for programmatic use in build tools, CI systems, and automation scripts.Read 8 Oct 2026 · build.pypa.io

Scope

It focuses on building packages and does not manage dependencies or virtual environments.Read 9 Oct 2026 · build.pypa.io

Where Specifiction places it

• Python Package Managers#11 of 277.8