whey
A simple Python wheel builder for simple projects.
Decision gist · record as of 2026-08-14
Yes, if you are building a simple Python project and want a lightweight, standards-compliant PEP 517 build backend. The package is actively maintained, has no known vulnerabilities, uses a permissive MIT license, and integrates cleanly via pyproject.toml. It is not worth installing if you need advanced build customization or are already committed to another build system.AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying
Before you install
- Requires Python 3.6.1 or later.
- The build-system configuration must be present in pyproject.toml following PEP 621 metadata format.
- Low install friction with a pure-Python wheel distribution.
License · maintenance · safety
permissive license (permissive) — MIT License permits unrestricted use, modification, and distribution with minimal restrictions—suitable for any project type.
last release 2024-05-21 (815 days) · last repo commit 2026-07-06 · 31 stars
0 known vulnerabilities (OSV.dev, 2026-08-14) · 704,994 downloads/mo, #5,274 on PyPI
Alternatives
Verify before relying
# Install whey
pip install whey
# Configure in pyproject.toml
[build-system]
requires = ["whey"]
build-backend = "whey"
# Build a wheel
python -m build- Whether whey handles all common packaging scenarios or is limited to 'simple projects' as described
- Performance characteristics when building large projects or monorepos
- Comparison of feature completeness versus other PEP 517 backends
What it is and what it does
whey is a lightweight Python wheel builder designed as a PEP 517 build backend for projects that use PEP 621 metadata in pyproject.toml. It creates wheels according to PEP 427 and handles type hint files (py.typed and .pyi stubs) automatically. The package is actively maintained, supports Python 3.6 through 3.12 on both CPython and PyPy, and carries no known security vulnerabilities.
The package targets developers building simple to moderately complex Python projects who want a straightforward, standards-compliant build system without the overhead of larger frameworks. It integrates directly into the build process via pyproject.toml configuration and can optionally validate README rendering for PyPI compatibility.
Use it for
- Use it as your build backend in pyproject.toml for projects that follow PEP 621 metadata standards
- Build wheels with automatic type hint file handling for libraries that ship .pyi stubs or py.typed markers
- Validate that your README will render correctly on PyPI before uploading (with the readme extra)
- Replace setuptools or other build backends in simple projects that don't need extensive customization
Worth the install?
AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page. Verify before relying on it.
Yes, if you are building a simple Python project and want a lightweight, standards-compliant PEP 517 build backend.
The package is actively maintained, has no known vulnerabilities, uses a permissive MIT license, and integrates cleanly via pyproject.toml. It is not worth installing if you need advanced build customization or are already committed to another build system.
Install
whey on PyPI
Before you install
Low install friction with a pure-Python wheel distribution. Actively maintained as of July 2026 with recent commits. Depends on 11 runtime packages including packaging, click, and pyproject-parser.
Requires Python 3.6.1 or later. The build-system configuration must be present in pyproject.toml following PEP 621 metadata format.
License in practice
MIT License permits unrestricted use, modification, and distribution with minimal restrictions—suitable for any project type.
Quickstart
# Install whey
pip install whey
# Configure in pyproject.toml
[build-system]
requires = ["whey"]
build-backend = "whey"
# Build a wheel
python -m buildVerify before relying
- Whether whey handles all common packaging scenarios or is limited to 'simple projects' as described
- Performance characteristics when building large projects or monorepos
- Comparison of feature completeness versus other PEP 517 backends
Package facts
| License | permissive license permissive |
| Python support | Supports the current Python release >=3.6.1 |
| Install friction | Low. Pure-Python wheel |
| Runtime dependencies | 11 packagesattrsclickconsolekitdist-metadom-tomldomdf-python-toolshandy-archivesnatsortpackagingpyproject-parsershippinglabel |
| Maintenance | Actively maintained 815 days since the last release |
| Last repo commit | |
| First released | |
| Downloads | 704,994 / month, #5,274 on PyPI 30-day window, as of 2026-08-14 |
| Known vulnerabilities | None known OSV.dev, checked 2026-08-14 |
| Classifiers | Development Status :: 3 - AlphaEnvironment :: ConsoleIntended Audience :: DevelopersLicense :: OSI Approved :: MIT LicenseOperating System :: OS IndependentProgramming Language :: PythonProgramming Language :: Python :: 3 :: OnlyProgramming Language :: Python :: 3.10Programming Language :: Python :: 3.11Programming Language :: Python :: 3.12Programming Language :: Python :: 3.6Programming Language :: Python :: 3.7Programming Language :: Python :: 3.8Programming Language :: Python :: 3.9Programming Language :: Python :: Implementation :: CPythonProgramming Language :: Python :: Implementation :: PyPyTopic :: Software Development :: Build ToolsTopic :: Software Development :: Libraries :: Python ModulesTopic :: System :: Archiving :: PackagingTyping :: Typed |
Evidence: whey-0.1.1-py3-none-any.whl
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See also cmeel · pdm-pep517 · pyproject-parser · dist-meta · wheel-stub · pdm-backend · wheel · build · whool · shiv