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What is BeeWare?

Python has proven itself as a highly capable language - approachable for newcomers, but powerful in the hands of experts. The BeeWare Project aims to take the power of Python as a language, and use it to enable users of all skill levels to develop applications with native user interfaces.

The end goal of the BeeWare project: To be able to do for mobile and desktop user-facing software the same thing that Django has done for web software - to put into the hands of users a set of tools and libraries that enables them to develop rich, native user interfaces, and deploy them to their devices. This includes:

  • Tools to enable Python to run on different devices,
  • Tools to package a Python project, so it can run on those devices,
  • Libraries to access the native widgets and capabilities of devices,
  • Tools to help develop, debug, analyze and deploy these projects.

The aim is that this set of tools will be easy enough to use for complete newcomers to use in a Django Girls-like setting; but powerful enough that they could be used to drive the next Instagram, Pinterest or Disqus.

We're not just about software, though. We also aim to be a project with a social conscience. We aim to develop and maintain a diverse and inclusive community, and we have a Code of Conduct that is rigorously enforced. We also aspire to develop a healthy and sustainable community - one that is aware of mental health issues of its participants, and provides the resources for people to start engaging, and continue to engage with the community.

What can I do with BeeWare?

You can do the following with BeeWare:

  • On macOS, you can produce console or GUI applications, packaged as .app bundles, DMG bundles, or PKG installers, fully signed and notarized for independent or macOS App Store distribution.
  • On Windows, you can produce console or GUI applications, packaged as MSI installers or ZIP archives, compatible with standard signing certificates for independent distribution.
  • On Linux, you can produce console or GUI applications, packaged as system-native packages (deb/rpm), Flatpaks, or AppImages.
  • On iOS, you can produce native applications, packaged as Xcode projects that can be built and distributed in the iOS App Store.
  • On Android, you can produce applications, packaged as APK binaries or Android App Bundles (AAB), suitable for distribution via the Google Play Store or for side loading.
  • On web browsers, you can produce single-page applications, packaged as a zip file suitable for serving on any static file web server.

Meet Brutus

Brutus the Bee

Brutus the Bee is the mascot of the BeeWare project. He's a busy little worker bee.

Fun fact: a person who keeps bees is called an apiarist - a name that the BeeWare project uses to describe the core team. This also reflects the relationship that the core team wishes to have with the community - we're shepherds of the community, and we'll provide direction, but we know the real work is done by the community as a whole.

Where to from here?

You can learn more about the history and philosophy of BeeWare.

If you'd like to take BeeWare for a test drive, try our tutorial.

If you'd like to keep up to date with what we're doing, follow @beeware@fosstodon.org on Mastodon. If you'd like to receive updates, hints, tips and announcements about the BeeWare project, sign up for the BeeWare Enthusiasts mailing list.