# error: Error in setup.cfg: entry_points must be a dictionary, not a list

- **ID:** `python/setuptools-entry-point-error`
- **Domain:** python
- **Category:** config_error
- **Verification:** ai_generated
- **Fix Rate:** 80%

## Root Cause

The entry_points configuration in setup.cfg is incorrectly formatted as a list instead of a dictionary.

## Version Compatibility

| Version | Status | Introduced | Deprecated |
|---------|--------|------------|------------|
| 3.8 | active | — | — |
| 3.9 | active | — | — |
| 3.10 | active | — | — |
| 3.11 | active | — | — |
| 3.12 | active | — | — |

## Workarounds

1. **Format entry_points as a dictionary in setup.cfg** (95% success)
   ```
   [options.entry_points]
console_scripts =
    mycommand = mypackage.module:function
   ```
2. **Define entry_points in setup.py as a dict** (90% success)
   ```
   entry_points={'console_scripts': ['mycommand=mypackage.module:function']}
   ```

## Dead Ends

- **Converting to a list of strings** — setuptools expects a dict with console_scripts keys. (90% fail)
- **Omitting entry_points entirely** — This removes the feature but may break expected CLI commands. (70% fail)