# A template repo for following Manning's Publishing Python Packages book > daneah/publishing-python-packages is a template repository that mirrors the examples and exercises in the Manning book of the same name. It is a companion resource, not a library, and its value depends entirely on whether you are working through the book. **daneah/publishing-python-packages** — Examples and exercises for Publishing Python Packages from Manning Books 🐍 📦 ⬆️ - Repository: https://github.com/daneah/publishing-python-packages - Website: https://pypackages.com - Stars: 100 · Forks: 32 - Language: Python - License: MIT - Published: 2026-08-17 · Updated: 2026-08-18 · Language: en - Canonical page: https://hysenlabs.com/projects/daneah-publishing-python-packages ## What this repository actually is The repository is a companion artifact, not a self-contained learning resource. That is a legitimate design choice for a book's code repository, but it means the repository's quality cannot be judged on its own. You have to evaluate it in the context of the book. The README even says that some snippets "won't always produce output when you run them," which is a clear signal that this is not a runnable demo. It is a collection of teaching aids. ## How the examples are organized The repository structure is simple: each chapter has a directory, and within a chapter you may find multiple snippets in a single module. The README says that in later chapters, some modules act as an entrypoint to run a program from the command line, importing other modules along the way. That suggests a progression from isolated snippets to a more integrated codebase as the book advances. The exact directory names and file contents are not visible in the material I have, so I cannot confirm the chapter names or the specific modules. Based on the description, the organization mirrors the book's chapter order, which is the only sensible way to follow along. ## Getting started: the template workflow The README gives one concrete command path: use GitHub's "Use this template" feature to make your own copy. The repository is a template repository, so the intended workflow is to generate a new repository from it rather than clone it directly. The README provides a direct link to the generate page. There are no installation commands, no dependency files, and no setup instructions in the material. You are expected to have Python and a packaging toolchain already. The book's homepage is pypackages.com, which likely has additional setup guidance, but that is outside the repository. For a reader, the first step is to click the generate link, then work through the chapters in order. ## A real limitation: stale content and no activity The last push to the repository was on December 25, 2021, and the only release is v0.0.2 from the same day. The repository is not archived, but it has been dormant for over three years. Packaging tools and best practices change quickly. For example, the Python packaging ecosystem has seen significant shifts in build backends, dependency management, and metadata standards since 2021. If the book's examples use tools like setuptools, twine, or pip, they may still work, but they may not reflect current recommendations. The README does not mention any maintenance policy or update schedule. This is a genuine risk for anyone following the book today: the code may produce deprecation warnings or fail with newer Python versions. The lack of activity is not a sign of poor quality, but it is a fact you must weigh before relying on the examples. ## The alternative: building your own project from scratch The obvious alternative is to ignore this repository and create your own Python package from scratch while reading the book. That approach forces you to type every line, which many educators argue improves retention. The difference is that the template repository gives you a known-good starting point, but it also lets you skip the mechanical parts. If you are the kind of learner who needs to see the complete code before understanding it, the template is useful. If you learn by making mistakes, building from scratch is better. The repository's existence does not add any functionality that you could not create yourself with a few files and a pyproject.toml. The value is purely convenience and alignment with the book's examples. ## Maintenance and licensing The repository is licensed under the MIT license, which means you can copy, modify, and distribute the code with minimal restrictions, provided you include the original copyright notice. That is a permissive license, and it is appropriate for a teaching resource. There are no contribution guidelines beyond a reference to .github/CONTRIBUTING.md, which is not visible in the material. The README mentions that errata and questions should be directed through those guidelines, and that errata will be published on the book's homepage. There is no indication of active maintenance. The single release, v0.0.2, suggests the repository was tagged once and never updated. If you adopt this template, you are responsible for updating the code to match your Python environment. The MIT license does not impose any obligation to maintain the code, and the author has not done so for several years. ## Conclusion Adopt this repository if you are reading the Manning book and want a ready-made structure to follow along, especially if you plan to use the template feature to start your own copy. Do not adopt it if you are looking for a standalone packaging tutorial or a maintained codebase, since the repository has had no activity since December 2021 and the examples are tied to the book's narrative. Before using it, verify that the book's edition matches the repository's content and that the code still runs on your Python version, as the examples predate several packaging ecosystem changes. ## FAQ ### How to structure a Python package, according to this repository? The repository is itself structured as one directory per chapter, from ch03 to ch10, with each chapter's examples in its own directory. In later chapters some modules act as an entrypoint to run a program from the command line, importing other modules along the way. ### How do I create my own Python package from this repository? It is a template repository, so the intended route is to make your own copy using the link in the README. The book, Publishing Python Packages: Test, share, and automate your projects, is where the reasoning behind each example lives. ### Which chapters have code in publishing-python-packages? Eight of them, in directories named ch03 through ch10. Each chapter's examples live in their own directory, and in some chapters you will find multiple snippets in a single module. ### Why does running some examples in publishing-python-packages produce no output? Because some files are snippets meant only to demonstrate a concept, and the README says they won't always produce output when you run them. Later chapters are the ones with modules that act as command line entrypoints. ### How do I report an error in the code or the book? Read the contribution guidelines at .github/CONTRIBUTING.md for the best course of action. Errata found after the book has been printed will be published on the book's homepage rather than in the repository. ## Sources - [Official documentation](https://pypackages.com) - [Official README](https://github.com/daneah/publishing-python-packages#readme) - [Project repository](https://github.com/daneah/publishing-python-packages) - [Release notes](https://github.com/daneah/publishing-python-packages/releases) --- Hysen Labs editorial analysis, written from the project's own repository and release notes. Cite the canonical page: https://hysenlabs.com/projects/daneah-publishing-python-packages