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I am trying to improve my workflow when developing python modules and have a rather basic question.

What exactly happens when choosing either option. To my knowledge develop leaves the files in place so I can modify them and play around with the package whereas install copies them in the site-packages folder of my python installation. How is the package linked to my python installation when using the develop option.

Martijn Pieters
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tim
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  • "Develp" adds in your site a python path file (.pth) file: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/700375/how-to-add-a-python-import-path-using-a-pth-file – Giupo Dec 02 '13 at 22:36

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develop creates an .egg-link file in the site-packages directory, which points back to the location of the project files. The same path is also added to the easy-install.pth file in the same location. Uninstalling with setup.py develop -u removes that link file again.

Do note that any install_requires dependencies not yet present are also installed, as regular eggs (they are easy_install-ed). Those dependencies are not uninstalled when uninstalling the development egg.

Martijn Pieters
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