ActiveState Platform Free plan 9.1 Visit Buildout
buildout.org
Spec sheet
- Purpose
- Buildout automates software assembly, including running build tools and applying software and templates to generate configuration files and scripts.Read 9 Oct 2026 · buildout.org
- Caching
- Buildout supports a download cache to reuse downloaded distributions and files fetched by recipes.Read 9 Oct 2026 · buildout.org
- Configuration
- Buildout reads configuration from `buildout.cfg` by default, using a variation of INI syntax.Read 9 Oct 2026 · buildout.org
- Dependency management
- Buildout installs specified Python distributions with their dependencies and can pin dependency versions in configuration.Read 9 Oct 2026 · buildout.org
- Dependency versions
- Users can pin requirement versions in configuration, and Buildout can maintain a versions file for selected versions.Read 9 Oct 2026 · buildout.org
- Design principles
- Buildout is based on repeatability, componentization, and automation.Read 9 Oct 2026 · buildout.org
- Development through deployment
- The documentation describes Buildout as applicable from software development through production deployment.Read 9 Oct 2026 · buildout.org
- Environment considerations
- The guide recommends a virtual environment or clean Python installation because packages in a shared Python installation can cause unexpected errors.Read 9 Oct 2026 · buildout.org
- Extensibility
- The documentation says recipes can automate tasks such as installing non-Python software from source or running JavaScript builders.Read 9 Oct 2026 · buildout.org
- Generated outputs
- Buildout can generate executable scripts and configuration files based on part options and substitutions.Read 9 Oct 2026 · buildout.org
- Installation
- The recommended installation method is pip inside a virtual environment, using `pip install zc.buildout`.Read 9 Oct 2026 · buildout.org
- Isolation
- The documentation recommends using a virtual environment or clean Python installation to reduce interference from packages in a shared Python environment.Read 9 Oct 2026 · buildout.org
- Non-Python tasks
- Recipes can run tools such as configure and make to install non-Python software from source, or automate other tasks with Python.Read 9 Oct 2026 · buildout.org
- Python development
- Buildout supports Python development projects by creating editable development eggs from project directories or setup.py paths.Read 9 Oct 2026 · buildout.org
- Recipe framework
- Recipes extend Buildout with reusable Python modules for tasks such as installing distributions and creating configuration files.Read 9 Oct 2026 · buildout.org
- Recipes
- Buildout recipes implement parts and can install or update software components; the documentation says there are hundreds of recipes to choose from.Read 9 Oct 2026 · buildout.org
- Repeatability
- Buildout aims for the same configuration to produce the same result when built in the same environment, regardless of build history.Read 9 Oct 2026 · buildout.org
- Security-related mode
- Buildout's install-from-cache mode is intended to make builds without network requests, provided recipes follow the mode's requirements and a download cache is configured.Read 9 Oct 2026 · buildout.org
- Support and community
- The project site links to a GitHub issue tracker and repository, and invites contributors to discuss ideas and submit pull requests through its development group.Read 9 Oct 2026 · buildout.org
- Use across lifecycle
- The documentation says Buildout can be used in software phases from development through production deployment.Read 9 Oct 2026 · buildout.org
- Version control
- The getting-started guide says the example project needs only its buildout.cfg file checked into version control; other files are generated.Read 9 Oct 2026 · buildout.org
- What it builds
- It runs build tools and applies software and templates to generate configuration files and scripts.Read 9 Oct 2026 · buildout.org
Where Specifiction places it
- Python Package Managers#15 of 277.7
