Include empty directory with python setup.py sdist

Question

I have a Python package where I want to include an empty directory as part of the source distribution. I tried adding

include empty_directory

to the MANIFEST.in file, but when I run

python setup.py sdist

The empty directory is still not included. Any tips on how to do this?

Answer 1

According to the docs:

• include pat1 pat2 - include all files matching any of the listed patterns
• exclude pat1 pat2 - exclude all files matching any of the listed patterns
• recursive-include dir pat1 pat2 - include all files under dir matching any of the listed patterns
• recursive-exclude dir pat1 pat2 - exclude all files under dir matching any of the listed patterns
• global-include pat1 pat2 - include all files anywhere in the source tree matching — & any of the listed patterns
• global-exclude pat1 pat2 - exclude all files anywhere in the source tree matching — & any of the listed patterns
• prune dir - exclude all files under dir
• graft dir - include all files under dir

So seems like you want graft, not include. Also, it seems you can't include empty directories. You have to create a "empty.txt" file or something like this inside the directory to force its inclusion.