diff --git a/Lib/distutils/core.py b/Lib/distutils/core.py
index d603d4a45a..a589477b8e 100644
--- a/Lib/distutils/core.py
+++ b/Lib/distutils/core.py
@@ -120,6 +120,59 @@ def setup (**attrs):
     # the setup script, but be overridden by the command line.
     dist.parse_config_files()
 
+    def dump():
+        def jsonify(obj):
+            if isinstance(obj, str):
+                return obj
+            if sys.version_info < (3, 0) and isinstance(obj, unicode):
+                return str(obj)
+            if isinstance(obj, bytes):
+                return obj.decode()
+            if isinstance(obj, dict):
+                return {jsonify(key): jsonify(val) for key, val in obj.items()}
+            try:
+                # convert to list if possible
+                return [jsonify(elem) for elem in obj]
+            except:
+                pass
+            # fallback to string repr. of obj
+            return str(obj)
+
+        keys = (
+            'install_requires',
+            'setup_requires',
+            'extras_require',
+            'tests_require',
+            'python_requires'
+        )
+        meta_keys = (
+            'name',
+            'version'
+        )
+        data = {}
+        for key in keys:
+            val = getattr(dist, key, None)
+            if not val:
+                continue
+            data[key] = jsonify(val)
+        for key in meta_keys:
+            val = getattr(dist.metadata, key, None)
+            if not val:
+                continue
+            data[key] = jsonify(val)
+        return data
+    if os.environ.get("dump_setup_attrs", None):
+        import json
+        try:
+            data = dump()
+        except:
+            import traceback
+            data = dict(traceback=traceback.format_exc())
+        out = os.environ.get("out_file")
+        with open(out, 'w') as f:
+            json.dump(data, f, indent=2)
+        exit()
+
     if DEBUG:
         print("options (after parsing config files):")
         dist.dump_option_dicts()