While you set up Python packages right into a given occasion of Python, the default conduct is for the package deal’s recordsdata to be copied into the goal set up. However generally you don’t need to copy the recordsdata—generally, you need to hyperlink to them, so any put in model of the package deal might be up to date by merely modifying the linked supply.
This conduct is known as an editable set up, and it’s a robust method to make use of a package deal on the similar time you’re modifying it. Any modifications to the supply for the package deal are immediately mirrored in all places it’s put in.
Utilizing editable installs to maintain tasks in sync
Right here’s a typical situation: Let’s say you could have a Python venture named pythingy someplace in your system—say, /usr/tasks/pythingy or D:/dev/pythingy. You employ pythingy as a utility in numerous different Python tasks, however you’re additionally always engaged on and making modifications to pything. It’s a ache to put in and replace copies of pythingy into a number of digital environments each time you make a change.
