Install python package into directory relative to site-packages

Question

I have a Python package that is one of a collection of company Python packages. When I run

python setup.py install

I want the package to be installed to a common company directory, along with other company packages. I want this directory to be relative to the default Python install directory, eg,

/usr/lib/python2.7/site-packages/<company_name>/<python_package_name>

That is, I want to insert <company_name> into the installation path at install time.

I've seen ways to prefix this path, but can't seem to work out how to do what I've described.

Answer 1

Unfortunately Python packaging doesn't work like that. You could probably bend it to work like that but that would be quite an effort for a person without experience in Python packaging and even for experienced persons the amount/output tradeoff would not make sense. You do not mention any motive to do this besides your personal preference.

Instead, to have well-managed and human-navigable package installation folder, I recommend you to study the following resources

• PEP 0382 - Namespace Packages : How to create packages like companyname.foobar, companyname.moomoo

• Installing packages into a virtualenv - Python packaging installation guide (official)

• S crambler: Symlink namespaced Python packages to a single folder