Buildout vs pip
Buildout
buildout.orgpip
pip.pypa.ioSide by side
| Figure | Buildout | pip |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | — | Free |
| Free plan | — | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 0 | 1 |
| Spec score · Python Package Managers | 7.7 (#15) | 8.3 (#3) |
| Installation | The recommended installation method is pip inside a virtual environment, using `pip install zc.buildout`. | pip is usually installed automatically in virtual environments and with Python downloaded from python.org. |
| Purpose | Buildout automates software assembly, including running build tools and applying software and templates to generate configuration files and scripts. | pip is the package installer for Python and can install packages from PyPI and other indexes. |
| Version control | The getting-started guide says the example project needs only its buildout.cfg file checked into version control; other files are generated. | pip supports installing packages from Git, Mercurial, Subversion, and Bazaar repositories. |
Plans
In their own words
pip
pip installs Python packages from PyPI and other package indexes, as well as from version control URLs, local project directories, and source archives. It supports source distributions and wheels, resolves dependencies, and can install an environment specified in a requirements file. Its install command can produce a JSON report of installed packages. pip runs on Linux, macOS, and Windows, and the current version supports CPython 3.10 through 3.15 and the latest PyPy3. Other operating systems and Python versions are not supported by its maintainers. It is commonly included in virtual environments and Python downloads from python.org; ensurepip and get-pip.py are also installation options. An experimental standalone zip application is available, but its documentation advises against production use. pip is free. It does not collect telemetry, though it sends non-identifying details such as Python version and operating system to the remote indexes it accesses. Remote tampering checks are not enabled by default; hash-checking mode and binary-only installs are listed as more secure options.