build vs Nox
build
build.pypa.ioNox
nox.thea.codesSide by side
| Figure | build | Nox |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | — | Free |
| Free plan | — | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| API | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 0 | 1 |
| Spec score · Python Package Managers | 7.8 (#11) | 7.6 (#17) |
| Configuration | It supports backend configuration through repeated -C options or --config-json for complex settings. | Nox uses a standard Python file named noxfile.py for project configuration. |
| Purpose | build is a Python packaging frontend that reads pyproject.toml and invokes build backends to create distribution packages. | Nox is a command-line tool that automates testing in multiple Python environments. |
| Scope | It focuses on building packages and does not manage dependencies or virtual environments. | The project describes Nox as specialized for Python testing and recommends other tools for broader task execution needs. |
Plans
In their own words
Nox
Nox is a free, open-source command-line tool for automating tests across multiple Python environments. Projects configure sessions in a standard Python file named noxfile.py. Each session can create a virtual environment, install chosen dependencies, and run commands in sequence. Sessions can target multiple Python interpreters, with a separate environment for each interpreter, and can vary dependency or database values through parameters. Nox supports venv, uv, conda, mamba, micromamba, and virtualenv backends. Tags organize sessions and select which ones to run. Helpers load dependencies from pyproject.toml files and PEP 723 scripts. Nox runs on Linux, macOS, and Windows and installs through pip or pipx. Its tutorial documents the wntrblm/nox GitHub Action for CI installation and Python-version selection. The project describes its scope as Python testing and recommends other tools for broader task execution. Its homepage says more than 3,000 projects use Nox.