Pex files

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When working with Python code, Pants makes frequent use of the Pex (Python EXecutable) format. So, you'll see Pex referenced frequently in this documentation.

A Pex is a self-contained Python environment, similar in spirit to a virtualenv. A Pex can contain combinations of Python source files, 3rd-party requirements (sdists or wheels), resource files, and metadata describing the contents.

Importantly, this metadata can include:

• Python interpreter constraints.
• Python platforms, like macosx_11_0_arm64-cp-39-cp39.
• An entry point or console script.

A Pex can be bundled into a single .pex file. This file, when executed, knows how to unpack itself, find an interpreter that matches its constraints, and run itself on that interpreter. Therefore deploying code packaged in a Pex file is as simple as copying the file to an environment that has a suitable Python interpreter.

Check out blog.pantsbuild.org/pants-pex-and-docker for how this workflow gets even better when combined with Pants's Docker support!