setuptools: package data folder location
I use setuptools to distribute my python package. Now I need to distribute additional datafiles.

From what I've gathered fromt the setuptools documentation, I need to have my data files inside the package directory. However, I would rather have my datafiles inside a sudbiredtory in the root directory.

What I would like to avoid

    / #root
    |- src/
    |  |- mypackage/
    |  |  |- data/
    |  |  |  |- resource1
    |  |  |  |- [...]
    |  |  |- __init__.py
    |  |  |- [...]
    |- setup.py

What I would like to have instead:

    / #root
    |- data/
    |  |- resource1
    |  |- [...]
    |- src/
    |  |- mypackage/
    |  |  |- __init__.py
    |  |  |- [...]
    |- setup.py


I just don't feel comfortable with having so many subdirectories, if not essential. I fail to find a reason, why I /have/ to put the files inside the package directory. It is also cumbersome to work with so many nested subdirectories IMHO. Or is there any good reason that would justify this restriction?
setuptools: package data folder location
===

I use setuptools to distribute my python package. Now I need to distribute additional datafiles.

From what I've gathered fromt the setuptools documentation, I need to have my data files inside the package directory. However, I would rather have my datafiles inside a sudbiredtory in the root directory.

What I would like to avoid

    / #root
    |- src/
    |  |- mypackage/
    |  |  |- data/
    |  |  |  |- resource1
    |  |  |  |- [...]
    |  |  |- __init__.py
    |  |  |- [...]
    |- setup.py

What I would like to have instead:

    / #root
    |- data/
    |  |- resource1
    |  |- [...]
    |- src/
    |  |- mypackage/
    |  |  |- __init__.py
    |  |  |- [...]
    |- setup.py


I just don't feel comfortable with having so many subdirectories, if not essential. I fail to find a reason, why I /have/ to put the files inside the package directory. It is also cumbersome to work with so many nested subdirectories IMHO. Or is there any good reason that would justify this restriction?