Python – Installing Python packages from local file system folder to virtualenv with pip

pippython

Is it possible to install packages using pip from the local filesystem?

I have run python setup.py sdist for my package, which has created the appropriate tar.gz file. This file is stored on my system at /srv/pkg/mypackage/mypackage-0.1.0.tar.gz.

Now in a virtual environment I would like to install packages either coming from pypi or from the specific local location /srv/pkg.

Is this possible?

PS
I know that I can specify pip install /srv/pkg/mypackage/mypackage-0.1.0.tar.gz. That will work, but I am talking about using the /srv/pkg location as another place for pip to search if I typed pip install mypackage.

Best Answer

What about::

pip install --help
...
  -e, --editable <path/url>   Install a project in editable mode (i.e. setuptools
                              "develop mode") from a local project path or a VCS url.

eg, pip install -e /srv/pkg

where /srv/pkg is the top-level directory where 'setup.py' can be found.