(mach-driver)=

# Drivers

## Entry Points

It is possible to use setuptools' entry points to load commands
directly from python packages. A mach entry point is a function which
returns a list of files or directories containing mach command
providers. e.g.:

```python
def list_providers():
    providers = []
    here = os.path.abspath(os.path.dirname(__file__))
    for p in os.listdir(here):
        if p.endswith('.py'):
            providers.append(os.path.join(here, p))
    return providers
```

See <http://pythonhosted.org/setuptools/setuptools.html#dynamic-discovery-of-services-and-plugins>
for more information on creating an entry point. To search for entry
point plugins, you can call
{py:meth}`mach.command_util.load_commands_from_entry_point`. e.g.:

```python
load_commands_from_entry_point("mach.external.providers")
```