Table of contents

  1. Post-install script with Python setuptools
  2. Execute a Python script post install using distutils / setuptools
  3. Generating pdf-latex with python script

Post-install script with Python setuptools

When creating a Python package using setuptools, you can include a post-install script that runs after the package is installed. This can be useful for tasks like initializing configuration files, creating directories, or setting up additional resources. Here's how to include a post-install script in your setuptools-based package:

  1. Create a setup.py File:

    First, make sure you have a setup.py file in your package's root directory. This file defines the package metadata and installation instructions.

  2. Define a Post-Install Function:

    In your setup.py file, define a function that will be called after the package is installed. You can name this function whatever you like. Here's an example:

    from setuptools import setup
    from setuptools.command.install import install
    
    def post_install_script():
        print("Running post-install script...")
        # Add your post-installation tasks here
    
    class CustomInstallCommand(install):
        def run(self):
            install.run(self)
            post_install_script()
    
    setup(
        name='your_package',
        version='1.0',
        packages=['your_package'],
        cmdclass={'install': CustomInstallCommand},
    )
    

    In this example, we define a post_install_script function that you can customize with your post-installation tasks. We also create a custom CustomInstallCommand class that inherits from install, which will be responsible for running the post-install script after the package installation is complete.

  3. Include the setup.py in Your Package:

    Make sure the setup.py file is included in your package's distribution, along with the package files and resources.

  4. Build and Install the Package:

    To build and install the package, navigate to your package's root directory in the terminal and run:

    python setup.py sdist bdist_wheel
    pip install .
    

    The pip install . command will install the package along with the post-install script.

  5. Verify the Post-Install Script:

    After installation, you should see the output from your post-install script in the terminal. This confirms that the script ran successfully.

Remember to replace "your_package" with the actual name of your package and customize the post_install_script function to perform the specific tasks you need after the package installation.


Execute a Python script post install using distutils / setuptools

You can execute a Python script automatically after installing a package using distutils or setuptools by including the script as a console script entry point in your package's setup configuration. This allows you to specify a Python script that will be installed and made available as an executable command after the package is installed. Here's how to do it:

  • Create a Python script that you want to execute post-install. For example, let's call it my_script.py. This script should contain the code you want to run.

  • In your package's setup.py (for distutils) or setup.py (for setuptools), add the following configuration to specify the console script:

For distutils (setup.py):

from distutils.core import setup

setup(
    name='your_package',
    version='1.0',
    description='Your package description',
    author='Your Name',
    author_email='[email protected]',
    packages=['your_package'],
    scripts=['my_script.py'],  # Specify your script here
)

For setuptools (setup.py):

from setuptools import setup

setup(
    name='your_package',
    version='1.0',
    description='Your package description',
    author='Your Name',
    author_email='[email protected]',
    packages=['your_package'],
    entry_points={
        'console_scripts': [
            'my_script=my_package.my_script:main',
        ],
    },
)

In the scripts section for distutils, you list your script directly. In the entry_points section for setuptools, you specify the script as a console script entry point. Make sure to replace 'your_package' with the actual package name and 'my_script' with the name of your script.

  • In your my_script.py script, you should define a main() function that contains the code you want to run post-install. For example:
def main():
    print("Hello from my_script.py!")

if __name__ == '__main__':
    main()
  • Build and distribute your package using python setup.py sdist (for distutils) or python setup.py sdist bdist_wheel (for setuptools).

  • Install your package using pip install your_package.

  • After installation, you can run your script as a command in the terminal:

my_script

The specified script will be executed, allowing you to perform post-install tasks as needed.


Generating pdf-latex with python script

You can generate PDF files from LaTeX documents using Python by utilizing the subprocess module to run the pdflatex command. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to generate a PDF from a LaTeX document using a Python script:

  1. Write Your LaTeX Document:

    Create your LaTeX document and save it with a .tex file extension. For example, let's call it my_document.tex. Ensure that you've defined the document class, included necessary packages, and added the content you want.

    \documentclass{article}
    \begin{document}
    Hello, LaTeX!
    \end{document}
    
  2. Create a Python Script:

    Write a Python script that uses the subprocess module to run pdflatex on your LaTeX document. Save it as, for example, generate_pdf.py.

    import subprocess
    
    # Specify the LaTeX document file name (without extension)
    tex_file = "my_document"
    
    # Run pdflatex to generate the PDF
    try:
        subprocess.check_call(["pdflatex", f"{tex_file}.tex"])
    except subprocess.CalledProcessError as e:
        print(f"Error: {e}")
    
  3. Run the Python Script:

    Execute the Python script in your terminal or command prompt.

    python generate_pdf.py
    
  4. View the Generated PDF:

    After running the script, you should see the generated PDF file in the same directory as your LaTeX document. In this example, it would be named my_document.pdf.

This simple Python script runs pdflatex on your LaTeX document, and it generates a PDF output file. Make sure you have LaTeX and pdflatex installed on your system before running the script.

If your LaTeX document includes bibliography references, you may need to run pdflatex multiple times to resolve citations. Additionally, you can customize the Python script to handle various aspects of the LaTeX document generation process according to your requirements.


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