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Easy Ways to Include Git Commit Hash in __version__

Updated on Dec 27,2023

Easy Ways to Include Git Commit Hash in __version__

Table of Contents

  1. Introduction
  2. Packaging Python Modules
    1. Code Duplication
    2. Benefits of Packaging
  3. Debugging Packaged Code
    1. Specific Version Numbers
    2. Using Git Commit Hash
    3. Tools for Including Commit Hash in Version STRING
  4. Versioneer
    1. Integration and Install Script
    2. Default Format and Gotchas
  5. Setuptools SCM
    1. Build Time Dependency
    2. Limitations of Version String Updates
  6. Workaround for Setuptools SCM
  7. Conclusion and Recommendations
  8. Demo on GitHub
  9. Contact Information

How to Put the Git Commit Hash in Your Version String

In this article, we will discuss a useful technique for packaging Python modules and how to effectively debug packaged code. We will explore the concept of specific version numbers and the inclusion of the Git commit hash in the version string. Additionally, we will Delve into two popular tools, Versioneer and Setuptools SCM, that can automate the process of including the commit hash in the version number.

1. Introduction

Packaging Python modules plays a critical role in ensuring code reusability and maintaining a structured development process. However, packaging can lead to code duplication and debugging challenges. This article provides insights into resolving these issues through the implementation of specific version numbers and leveraging the Git commit hash.

2. Packaging Python Modules

2.1 Code Duplication

Dealing with code duplication is a common challenge faced by developers when working with Python modules. Copying and pasting the same code across multiple notebooks or contexts can lead to inconsistencies, longer development cycles, and increased maintenance efforts.

2.2 Benefits of Packaging

Packaging Python modules offers numerous advantages, including code organization, reusability, and ease of distribution. By packaging code into modules, developers can abstract complex functionalities, facilitate collaboration, and simplify the deployment process. However, along with these benefits come potential challenges, such as debugging issues when code is not readily available for inspection.

3. Debugging Packaged Code

When code is packaged and distributed, debugging can become more challenging. It becomes essential to have a version number that is as specific as possible to identify the exact code being executed. By convention, Python packages have a version attribute that can be checked, but it needs to be updated manually during packaging.

3.1 Specific Version Numbers

Manually updating version numbers during packaging can be error-prone and time-consuming. Moreover, it can lead to multiple editions of the code with the same version number, which defeats the purpose of versioning. To tackle these challenges, it is crucial to include more specific information in the version number.

3.2 Using Git Commit Hash

The Git commit hash provides a unique identifier for each commit in a code repository. By incorporating the commit hash into the version string, it becomes easier to track down specific code versions and debug any issues. This approach ensures that the version number accurately reflects the exact code being executed.

3.3 Tools for Including Commit Hash in Version String

There are two popular tools available for including the Git commit hash in the version string: Versioneer and Setuptools SCM.

4. Versioneer

4.1 Integration and Install Script

Versioneer is a tool that integrates into the Python project, allowing the automatic computation of the correct version at runtime. It uses git tags as the source of truth for versioning. For commits without a tag, Versioneer adds additional information to the version string, such as the number of commits made since the tagged release and a portion of the commit hash.

4.2 Default Format and Gotchas

Versioneer's default format provides concise version numbers, making it easier to track the code's history. However, it can cause issues when uploading packages to a package index. The part of the version string after the plus sign is called a local version identifier, which should indicate a development version. Failure to follow the naming convention can lead to unexpected version conflicts.

5. Setuptools SCM

5.1 Build Time Dependency

Setuptools SCM offers an alternative approach to including the commit hash in the version string. It relies on a build-time dependency from PyPI and does not require the installation of additional code into the repository. However, Setuptools SCM updates the version string only when the setup script is run, which can lead to inconsistencies if the code changes but is not explicitly pre-installed.

5.2 Limitations of Version String Updates

One limitation of Setuptools SCM is that the version string updates only at build time. When working in editable mode, where code changes are directly reflected without rebuilding, the version string may not accurately represent the Current code version. This limitation can be overcome by implementing a runtime dependency on Setuptools SCM.

6. Workaround for Setuptools SCM

To address the limitation of Setuptools SCM's version string updates, a workaround can be implemented by creating a runtime dependency on Setuptools SCM. This ensures that the version string is always up-to-date, even when working in editable mode or when the code changes without explicit pre-installation.

7. Conclusion and Recommendations

In conclusion, packaging Python modules is beneficial for code organization and reusability. To ensure effective debugging, including a specific version number in the code is crucial. Leveraging the Git commit hash in the version string provides a reliable way to track down specific code versions. Both Versioneer and Setuptools SCM offer convenient tools for automatically including the commit hash.

It is recommended to choose the tool that best aligns with your project's requirements and preferences. Versioneer provides concise version numbers by default but may require additional configuration for certain scenarios. Setuptools SCM offers simpler integration but has limitations when it comes to consistent version string updates. Consider the trade-offs and select the tool that suits your needs.

8. Demo on GitHub

To further illustrate the implementation of Versioneer and Setuptools SCM, a demonstration repository showcasing both tools is available on GitHub. You can explore the installation process and experiment with the different features provided by these tools.

9. Contact Information

If you have any further questions or corrections regarding the information shared in this article, please feel free to reach out using the following channels:

Thank you for reading and for your interest in understanding how to include the Git commit hash in your version string.

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