===============================
 Welcome to importlib_metadata
===============================

``importlib_metadata`` is a library which provides an API for accessing an
installed package's `metadata`_, such as its entry points or its top-level
name.  This functionality intends to replace most uses of ``pkg_resources``
`entry point API`_ and `metadata API`_.  Along with ``importlib.resources`` in
`Python 3.7 and newer`_ (backported as `importlib_resources`_ for older
versions of Python), this can eliminate the need to use the older and less
efficient ``pkg_resources`` package.

``importlib_metadata`` is a backport of Python 3.8's standard library
`importlib.metadata`_ module for Python 2.7, and 3.4 through 3.7.  Users of
Python 3.8 and beyond are encouraged to use the standard library module, and
in fact for these versions, ``importlib_metadata`` just shadows that module.
Developers looking for detailed API descriptions should refer to the Python
3.8 standard library documentation.

The documentation here includes a general :ref:`usage <using>` guide.


.. toctree::
   :maxdepth: 2
   :caption: Contents:

   using.rst
   changelog (links).rst


Project details
===============

 * Project home: https://gitlab.com/python-devs/importlib_metadata
 * Report bugs at: https://gitlab.com/python-devs/importlib_metadata/issues
 * Code hosting: https://gitlab.com/python-devs/importlib_metadata.git
 * Documentation: http://importlib_metadata.readthedocs.io/


Indices and tables
==================

* :ref:`genindex`
* :ref:`modindex`
* :ref:`search`


.. _`metadata`: https://www.python.org/dev/peps/pep-0566/
.. _`entry point API`: https://setuptools.readthedocs.io/en/latest/pkg_resources.html#entry-points
.. _`metadata API`: https://setuptools.readthedocs.io/en/latest/pkg_resources.html#metadata-api
.. _`Python 3.7 and newer`: https://docs.python.org/3/library/importlib.html#module-importlib.resources
.. _`importlib_resources`: https://importlib-resources.readthedocs.io/en/latest/index.html
.. _`importlib.metadata`: TBD