Python Package Tracker

A lightweight pip/setuptools package tracking utility similar to Reo.

Features

• Zero runtime overhead for your application code
• Privacy-first metadata collection
• Non-blocking with strict timeout protection
• Retry logic with exponential backoff
• Configurable via environment variables and pyproject.toml

Important pip/setuptools Note

Unlike npm postinstall, Python packaging does not guarantee dependency install hooks in all pip flows (especially wheel installs).

This implementation provides:

• A best-effort setuptools install hook in setup.py
• A manual CLI entry point: package-tracker

Installation

Inside a package that uses setuptools:

pip install reo-package-tracker

Or from this directory:

cd python
pip install .

Configuration

Environment Variables

• PACKAGE_TRACKER_ANALYTICS=false - Disable tracking
• PACKAGE_TRACKER_ANALYTICS=true - Enable tracking for opt-in mode
• PACKAGE_TRACKER_VERBOSE=true - Enable verbose logging
• PACKAGE_TRACKER_ENDPOINT=https://telemetry.reo.dev/data - Custom endpoint

pyproject.toml settings

Add this to your package:

[tool.reoSettings]
defaultOptIn = false
endpoint = "https://telemetry.reo.dev/data"

Settings:

• defaultOptIn (boolean, default: true)
  • true: opt-out mode (tracking enabled unless explicitly disabled)
  • false: opt-in mode (tracking disabled unless explicitly enabled)
• endpoint (string, optional)
  • Tracking endpoint override

Usage

Manual run

PACKAGE_TRACKER_VERBOSE=true package-tracker

Module run

python -m package_tracker

Payload Shape

The payload includes:

• package: package name and version
• system: platform, architecture, Python version, OS info
• installation: timestamp, cwd, install context
• metadata: git user/domain, CI context, pip user (if available)

Privacy & Opt-Out

Collected:

• Package metadata
• System/platform metadata
• Installation context
• Email domain only (never full email)

Not collected:

• Source code contents
• Passwords or secrets
• Full email addresses

Users can always disable telemetry:

export PACKAGE_TRACKER_ANALYTICS=false
pip install your-package

Development

See python/TESTING.md for test flows and verification commands.

License

MIT