This is a proof of concept that shows how to include auxiliary/external data in your Python wheels, without having to include that data in your source code directory. You can have that data in completely separate directories, and it will be installed into specific system directories from where you can access it.

https://blag.kazeno.net/development/python/package-and-access-external-data-files-in-your-python-wheels-with-pdm

The following instructions assume you're inside the repository's main directory, unless noted otherwise.

On your terminal:

pip install --upgrade pdm

On your terminal:

pdm build

This should create a file with .whl extension in the dist subdirectory.

On your terminal:

pip install dist/%YOUR_WHEEL_FILE_NAME%

where you need to substitute %YOUR_WHEEL_FILE_NAME% for the filename of your wheel, which was created in the previous step.

On your terminal:

cd %SOME_OTHER_DIRECTORY_PATH%

where you need to substitute %SOME_OTHER_DIRECTORY_PATH% for the path of some other directory, to test the installed package.

This is the easiest way to test, but of course you can now import the package into any scripts in your environment. On your terminal:

python -m awesome_package.awesome_module

This should copy the auxiliary data files into your testing directory, and print the outputs of the auxiliary scripts.