How to run pip from checkout?

[techtonik]

What's the problem this feature will solve?
Testing my patch that I rebased after several years on a machine with no development environment.

Describe the solution you'd like
https://pip.pypa.io/en/stable/development/ page should list how to current pip from git clone. Ideally as an OS independent one-liner.

[pfmoore]

What's wrong with pip install -e .?

[techtonik]

I don't want to install development version to ruin my system. There should be a way to execute dev pip with a single command from checkout that doesn't affect anything outside project directory.

[RonnyPfannschmidt]

whipspers virtualenv

[pradyunsg]

Create a virtualenv or let tox set them up for you? tox will create the environment and then you can run pip from within it - ./.tox/py36/bin/pip.

As an aside, I suggest you use the latest version of the development docs, since they contain more up-to-date instructions: https://pip.pypa.io/en/latest/development/

[techtonik]

Yea, I know, no need to whisper. virtualenv, virtualenvwrapper, venc, lxc etc. But I feel tired setting this up every time, and this is not an one-liner, because every I need to keep the location of the executable in my head, and the space is running out as fast as the time.

tox hack is good. Maybe it is even worth to make it official - if you need separate environment for running tests anyway, why not to reuse that for development?

I didn't notice that I am using old docs version. I don't see the point in syncing docs to version of pip. Better have always updated docs that include historical info. Thanks for the pointers though,

[techtonik]

No tox and no virtualenv is installed here. Could be nice if people can just run pip from git clone without all this yak shaving,

[RonnyPfannschmidt]

@techtonik so fix it with a patch or fix it by providing a tool that fixes it for all of python

[techtonik]

BTW, why nobody recommends python src/pip? Looks like it just works.

[pfmoore]

@techtonik Because frankly nobody but you seems to be so resistant to the various approaches that have already been suggested. If you now have a solution that satisfies you, can this issue be closed?

[techtonik]

@techtonik so fix it with a patch or fix it by providing a tool that fixes it for all of python

Done in #5752. I included explanation that clears my doubts and virtualenv section for comparison. I frankly don't understand why anyone need to use virtualenv with pip. It always looked to me really weird with all this bashery activations.

[pradyunsg]

I'll go ahead and close this since we have a PR for discussion on the next steps.