# 18.12 `distutils` -- Building and installing Python modules

The `distutils` package provides support for building and installing additional modules into a Python installation. The new modules may be either 100%-pure Python, or may be extension modules written in C, or may be collections of Python packages which include modules coded in both Python and C.

This package is discussed in two separate documents which are included in the Python documentation package. To learn about distributing new modules using the `distutils` facilities, read Distributing Python Modules; this includes documentation needed to extend distutils. To learn about installing Python modules, whether or not the author made use of the `distutils` package, read Installing Python Modules.

See Also:

Distributing Python Modules
  The manual for developers and packagers of Python modules. This describes how to prepare `distutils`-based packages so that they may be easily installed into an existing Python installation.

Installing Python Modules
  An ``administrators'' manual which includes information on installing modules into an existing Python installation. You do not need to be a Python programmer to read this manual.