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The `!Python Package Index`!, abbreviated as `!PyPI`! (/ˌpaɪpiˈaɪ/) and also known as the `!Cheese Shop`! (a reference to the `*`F33f`_`[Monty Python's Flying Circus`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Monty_Python's_Flying_Circus]`_`f`* sketch "`F33f`_`[Cheese Shop`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Cheese_Shop_sketch]`_`f"),`:cite-ref-2[`F5bf`_`[2`#cite-note-2]`_`f]`:cite-ref-3[`F5bf`_`[3`#cite-note-3]`_`f] is the official third-party `F33f`_`[software repository`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Software_repository]`_`f for `F33f`_`[Python`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Python_(programming_language)]`_`f.`:cite-ref-ancient-pypi-tutorial-4-0[`F5bf`_`[4`#cite-note-ancient-pypi-tutorial-4]`_`f] It is analogous to the `F33f`_`[CPAN`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=CPAN]`_`f repository for `F33f`_`[Perl`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Perl]`_`f`:cite-ref-5[`F5bf`_`[5`#cite-note-5]`_`f] and to the `F33f`_`[CRAN`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=R_package]`_`f repository for `F33f`_`[R`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=R_(programming_language)]`_`f. PyPI is run by the `F33f`_`[Python Software Foundation`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Python_Software_Foundation]`_`f, a charity. Some `F33f`_`[package managers`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Package_manager]`_`f, including `F33f`_`[pip`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Pip_(package_manager)]`_`f, use PyPI as the default source for packages and their dependencies.`:cite-ref-pip-usage-6-0[`F5bf`_`[6`#cite-note-pip-usage-6]`_`f]`:cite-ref-pypi-mirrors-7-0[`F5bf`_`[7`#cite-note-pypi-mirrors-7]`_`f]
As of 6 May 2024, more than 530,000 Python packages are available.
PyPI primarily hosts Python packages in the form of source archives, called "sdists", or of "wheels"`:cite-ref-wheel-pep-8-0[`F5bf`_`[8`#cite-note-wheel-pep-8]`_`f] that may contain binary modules from a compiled language.
PyPI as an index allows users to search for packages by `F33f`_`[keywords`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Index_term]`_`f or by `F33f`_`[filters`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Filter_(software)]`_`f against their `F33f`_`[metadata`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Metadata]`_`f, such as `F33f`_`[free software license`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Free_software_license]`_`f or compatibility with `F33f`_`[POSIX`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=POSIX]`_`f.`:cite-ref-pypi-browse-9-0[`F5bf`_`[9`#cite-note-pypi-browse-9]`_`f] A single entry on PyPI is able to store, aside from just a package and its metadata, previous releases of the package, `F33f`_`[precompiled`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Preprocessor]`_`f wheels (e.g. containing `F33f`_`[DLLs`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Dynamic-link_library]`_`f on Windows), as well as different forms for different `F33f`_`[operating systems`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Operating_system]`_`f and Python versions.
>>Contents
• `F0af`_`[History`#history]`_`f
• `F0af`_`[Notes`#notes]`_`f
• `F0af`_`[References`#references]`_`f
-─
>>History
The `*Python Distribution Utilities`* (`*distutils`*) Python module was first added to the Python standard library in the 1.6.1 release, in September 2000, and in the 2.0 release, in October 2000, nine years after the first Python release in February 1991, with the goal of simplifying the process of installing `F33f`_`[third-party`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Third-party_software_component]`_`f Python packages.`:cite-ref-py1-6-10-0[`F5bf`_`[10`#cite-note-py1-6-10]`_`f]`:cite-ref-py2-0-11-0[`F5bf`_`[11`#cite-note-py2-0-11]`_`f]
However, `*distutils`* only provided the tools for packaging Python `F33f`_`[code`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Code]`_`f, and no more. It was able to collect and distribute `F33f`_`[metadata`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Metadata]`_`f but did not use it for other purposes.`:cite-ref-pep-301-12-0[`F5bf`_`[12`#cite-note-pep-301-12]`_`f] Python still lacked a centralised catalog for packages on the internet. PEP 241, a proposal to standardize metadata for indexes, was finalized in March 2001.`:cite-ref-pep-241-13-0[`F5bf`_`[13`#cite-note-pep-241-13]`_`f] A proposal to create a comprehensive centralised catalog, hosted at the python.org domain, was later finalized in November 2002.`:cite-ref-ancient-pypi-tutorial-4-1[`F5bf`_`[4`#cite-note-ancient-pypi-tutorial-4]`_`f]`:cite-ref-pep-301-12-1[`F5bf`_`[12`#cite-note-pep-301-12]`_`f]
On 16 April 2018, all PyPI traffic began being served by a more modern website platform: Warehouse. The legacy website was turned off at the end of that month.`:cite-ref-14[`F5bf`_`[14`#cite-note-14]`_`f]`:cite-ref-15[`F5bf`_`[15`#cite-note-15]`_`f] All existing packages were migrated to the new platform with their histories preserved.`:cite-ref-16[`F5bf`_`[16`#cite-note-16]`_`f]
In May 2023 the Python Software Foundation reported that the `F33f`_`[United States Department of Justice`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=United_States_Department_of_Justice]`_`f had `F33f`_`[subpoenaed`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Subpoena]`_`f the user data of five PyPI contributors.`:cite-ref-durbin-2023-17-0[`F5bf`_`[17`#cite-note-durbin-2023-17]`_`f]`:cite-ref-18[`F5bf`_`[18`#cite-note-18]`_`f] A representative of the organization further explained that they expect privacy for contributors, but they also comply with the law and court orders, and for this reason turned over the data which the government requested.`:cite-ref-durbin-2023-17-1[`F5bf`_`[17`#cite-note-durbin-2023-17]`_`f]
>>Notes
Wikidata
has the property:
• `!`*PyPI project (P5568)`*`! (see uses)
>>>References
`:cite-note-1`!1.`! "Packaging History". `*Python Packaging Authority — PyPA documentation`*.
`:cite-note-2`!2.`! `F0af`_`[↑`#cite-ref-2]`_`f `:citereflutz2006`aLutz, Mark (2006). `*Programming Python`*. Vol. 10 (3 ed.). O'Reilly Media, Inc. `F33f`_`[ISBN`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=ISBN_(identifier)]`_`f 9780596009250.
`:cite-note-3`!3.`! `F0af`_`[↑`#cite-ref-3]`_`f `:citereframalho2015`aRamalho, Luciano (2015). `*Fluent Python`*. O'Reilly Media, Inc. `F33f`_`[ISBN`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=ISBN_(identifier)]`_`f 9781491946268.
`:cite-note-ancient-pypi-tutorial-4`!4.`! `F0af`_`[↑`#cite-ref-ancient-pypi-tutorial-4-0]`_`f `:citerefhylton2003`aHylton, Jeremy (24 September 2003). "Python Package Index Tutorial". Jeremy Hylton. Archived from the original on 21 May 2012. Retrieved 22 April 2012.
`:cite-note-5`!5.`! `F0af`_`[↑`#cite-ref-5]`_`f `:citerefbarry2010`aBarry, Paul (2010). `*Head First Python`*. O'Reilly Media, Inc. `F33f`_`[ISBN`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=ISBN_(identifier)]`_`f 978-1-4493-8267-4.
`:cite-note-pip-usage-6`!6.`! `F0af`_`[↑`#cite-ref-pip-usage-6-0]`_`f "Usage". `*pip 1.1.post1 documentation`*. The pip developers. Archived from the original on 2 May 2012.
`:cite-note-pypi-mirrors-7`!7.`! `F0af`_`[↑`#cite-ref-pypi-mirrors-7-0]`_`f "PyPI mirrors". `*Python Package Index`*. `F33f`_`[Python Software Foundation`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Python_Software_Foundation]`_`f. Archived from the original on 3 May 2012. Retrieved 22 April 2012.
`:cite-note-wheel-pep-8`!8.`! `F0af`_`[↑`#cite-ref-wheel-pep-8-0]`_`f "PEP 427 -- The Wheel Binary Package Format 1.0". `F33f`_`[Python Software Foundation`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Python_Software_Foundation]`_`f. 15 February 2013. Retrieved 28 October 2017.
`:cite-note-pypi-browse-9`!9.`! `F0af`_`[↑`#cite-ref-pypi-browse-9-0]`_`f "Browse : Python Package Index". `F33f`_`[Python Software Foundation`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Python_Software_Foundation]`_`f. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
`:cite-note-py1-6-10`!10.`! `F0af`_`[↑`#cite-ref-py1-6-10-0]`_`f "Python 1.6.1". `F33f`_`[Python Software Foundation`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Python_Software_Foundation]`_`f. Retrieved 24 April 2012.
`:cite-note-py2-0-11`!11.`! `F0af`_`[↑`#cite-ref-py2-0-11-0]`_`f "What's New in Python 2.0". `F33f`_`[Python Software Foundation`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Python_Software_Foundation]`_`f. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
`:cite-note-pep-301-12`!12.`! `F0af`_`[↑`#cite-ref-pep-301-12-0]`_`f "PEP 301 -- Package Index and Metadata for Distutils". `F33f`_`[Python Software Foundation`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Python_Software_Foundation]`_`f. 24 October 2002. Retrieved 3 June 2012.
`:cite-note-pep-241-13`!13.`! `F0af`_`[↑`#cite-ref-pep-241-13-0]`_`f "PEP 241 -- Metadata for Python Software Packages". `F33f`_`[Python Software Foundation`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Python_Software_Foundation]`_`f. 19 October 2001. Retrieved 18 August 2016.
`:cite-note-14`!14.`! `F0af`_`[↑`#cite-ref-14]`_`f "Welcome to Warehouse's documentation!".
`:cite-note-15`!15.`! `F0af`_`[↑`#cite-ref-15]`_`f "Python Insider: New PyPI launched, legacy PyPI shutting down April 30". `F33f`_`[Python Software Foundation`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Python_Software_Foundation]`_`f. 16 April 2018. Retrieved 1 June 2018.
`:cite-note-16`!16.`! `F0af`_`[↑`#cite-ref-16]`_`f "A new package index for Python". `F33f`_`[LWN.net`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=LWN.net]`_`f. Retrieved 1 June 2018.
`:cite-note-durbin-2023-17`!17.`! `F0af`_`[↑`#cite-ref-durbin-2023-17-0]`_`f `:citerefdurbin2023`aDurbin, Ee (24 May 2023). "PyPI was subpoenaed - The Python Package Index". `*blog.pypi.org`*.
`:cite-note-18`!18.`! `F0af`_`[↑`#cite-ref-18]`_`f `:citerefrudra2023`aRudra, Sourav (25 May 2023). "The Python Software Foundation Complies with PyPI Subpoenas to Share Some User Data". `*It's FOSS News`*.
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