How can I use --prefer-binary with pip in Python 3?

Question

In Python 2 I can install a set of packages via pip preferring binary packages over source packages (meaning: fallback to source if binary not found) with:

(1) pip install --prefer-binary -r requirements.txt

In Python 3 I can do this with:

(2) pip3 install --only-binary=:all: -r requirements.txt

But (1) is not exactly equal to (2) since the former says:

Prefer binaries when installing; but if I don't find a binary option, then I'll go with source.

The latter says:

I will fail if no binaries are found; don't even try from source.

So, from the docs it seems that one solution could be to just manually enter each package which should be considered for source installation - meaning: the "only-binary" flag can be provided multiple times on the command line and can thus handle special-cases like that (by emptying it out, or giving specific package names to the binary packages). This answer details, to some extent, that approach: Make pip download prefer to download source-distributions (not wheels).

However, I have a large number of both types of packages so I need an automated way like the (1) approach.

Question: How can I get a similar automated behavior as (1) but in Python/pip 3?

Solution: Pip is not Python - upgrade pip to vs. 20.X and use --prefer-binary.

Actually, maybe this is just due to an outdated pip? If I upgrade to vs. 20 this might fix it? https://pip.pypa.io/en/stable/reference/pip_install/ — Jesper - jtk.eth, May 11 '20 at 16:24
python is not pip. It is not fundamentally different when using python 2 or python3. `prefer-binary` is still part of the pip command line api, as you can see [here](https://pip.pypa.io/en/stable/reference/pip_install/#cmdoption-prefer-binary) — FlyingTeller, May 11 '20 at 16:37
Thanks @FlyingTeller - I updated my answer with the solution too. I had connected the two too tight in my head - this was very helpful. — Jesper - jtk.eth, May 11 '20 at 17:29
You can answer your own question. Please add `upgrade pip to vs. 20.X and use --prefer-binary` as an answer — cowlinator, May 19 '21 at 01:07

score 11 · Accepted Answer · answered May 21 '21 at 05:13

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Solution: upgrade pip to vs. 20.X and use --prefer-binary

answered May 21 '21 at 05:13

Jesper - jtk.eth

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score 5 · Answer 2 · answered Aug 23 '21 at 05:02

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now its feasible to configure that on requirements.txt

--prefer-binary

<packages>
....

https://github.com/pypa/pip/pull/7996

answered Aug 23 '21 at 05:02

Oshan Wisumperuma

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How can I use --prefer-binary with pip in Python 3?

2 Answers2