pypa/pip
Pip
pip is a Python package manager used to install, update, and remove software libraries from the Python Package Index and other remote repositories. It functions as a dependency resolver that calculates compatible version sets for complex software trees, an environment inspector for analyzing installed distributions, and a wheel builder that compiles source distributions into binary files.
The tool supports various installation methods, including fetching packages directly from web URLs and Git commits, as well as installing packages in editable mode for active development. It enables the creation of reproducible environments by freezing installed package versions into a structured list.
Its broader capabilities include binary wheel compilation, installation simulation, and package metadata inspection. The system also manages a local HTTP caching layer for distribution files and ensures secure network connections through SSL certificate verification.
Operational settings are managed via a hierarchy of command-line arguments, environment variables, and configuration files.
Features
- Python Package Managers - Manages the installation and removal of software libraries from remote indexes to make them available for Python projects.
- Package Dependency Managers - Resolves and installs required library versions to ensure a compatible environment for a project.
- Binary Distribution Systems - Distributes pre-compiled binary archives (wheels) to optimize installation speed and bypass local build requirements.
- Dependency Resolvers - Implements a backtracking algorithm to calculate a compatible set of package versions from a dependency graph.
- Dependency Freezing - Generates a list of installed packages and exact versions to create reproducible environments.
- Package Installers - Downloads and sets up libraries from a remote index to make them available for use in a project.
- Package Uninstallers - Removes installed packages from the environment and deletes all associated files.
- Library Version Resolution - Calculates and installs a compatible set of library versions to satisfy overlapping requirements across a project.
- Wheel Compilation - Compiles source distributions into binary wheel files to accelerate the installation process.
- Dependency Resolution Engines - Calculates a compatible set of versions to satisfy overlapping requirements across complex dependency trees.
- Build Isolation Tools - Creates temporary isolated environments with specific build-time dependencies to compile source distributions.
- Command Line Configuration - Allows setting and viewing operational options through a combination of command-line tools and configuration files.
- Package Metadata Querying - Displays detailed information about installed packages including versions, summaries, and requirements.
- Remote Repository Querying - Provides functionality to query remote package repositories to identify available versions and distributions for installation.
- Environment Inspection - Outputs installed distributions and environment details in a structured JSON format for programmatic analysis.
- Installed Package Management - Displays all currently installed packages along with their versions and installation locations.
- Direct URL Installations - Fetches and installs packages directly from web URLs, Git commits, or archive links.
- Editable Installations - Links a project to the environment so source code changes take effect immediately without needing a reinstall.
- Editable Installations - Installs packages in editable mode so source code changes take effect immediately without needing a reinstall.
- Distribution Metadata Inspection - Lists installed distributions and outputs environment metadata in structured formats for programmatic analysis.
- URL Dependencies - Supports fetching dependencies directly from remote URLs and tracks their origin for reproducible updates.
- Build Dependency Management - Manages required package versions during the build process to ensure stability without altering the final installation.
- Wheel Binary Compilation - Compiles source distributions into binary wheels to accelerate installation processes across different systems.
- Configuration Hierarchy Loading - Reads operational settings from a hierarchy of command-line arguments, environment variables, and ini-style configuration files.
- Environment Reproducibility Tools - Freezes installed package versions into a structured list to ensure consistent environments across different machines.
- HTTP Resource Caching - Stores downloaded distribution files and metadata on local disk to minimize redundant network requests.
- Environment and Package Management - Installs and manages Python software packages.
- Package Managers - Standard tool for installing Python packages.
