GlossaryΒΆ

distribution

Separately installable sets of Python modules as stored in the Python package index, and installed by distutils or setuptools.

definition taken from PEP 382 text

module
An importable python namespace defined in a single file.
namespace package

Mechanism for splitting a single Python package across multiple directories on disk. One or more distributions (see distribution) may provide modules which exist inside the same namespace package.

definition taken from PEP 382 text

package

A Python package is a module defined by a directory, containing a __init__.py file, and can contain other modules or other packages within it.

package/
    __init__.py
    subpackage/
        __init__.py
    submodule.py

see also, namespace package

vendor package

Groups of files installed by an operating system’s packaging mechanism (e.g. Debian or Redhat packages install on Linux systems).

definition taken from PEP 382 text