Using pip to install a program while running

Question

I have a program with plugin functionality and I don't want to install all the plugins from setup.py if I am not using them. They should only be installed when they are activated in the config of the main program.

Is it possible to install these programs using pip while running the main program?

Something like this:

try:
   if PLUGINNAME not installed:
      pip install PLUGINNAME

I know its possible to use os.system to force console input but that seems really bad.

Jens de Bruijn · Accepted Answer · 2015-08-10 13:12:32Z

4

You can do this with a by trying to import the module. If the module is not installed an ImportError will be given and you can install the package.

import pip
import imp

try:
    imp.find_module(package)
except ImportError:
    pip.main(['install', package])

edited Aug 10, 2015 at 13:12

answered Aug 10, 2015 at 12:43

Jens de Bruijn

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2 Comments

Zanndorin Over a year ago

How can I do this if I do not want to import it? Can I Just throw it out?

Jens de Bruijn Over a year ago

That is very difficult (stackoverflow.com/questions/1668223/…). At least you could remove the import after the exception as this is not required. I have modified the answer to use imp to check if the module is available which does not actually import the module

greybeard · Accepted Answer · 2023-07-15 15:14:57Z

-3

you should use this

import pip
import sys

def install(package):
    if not package in sys.modules:
        pip.main(['install', package])
# Example
if __name__ == '__main__':
    install('argh')

edited Jul 15, 2023 at 15:14

greybeard

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answered Aug 10, 2015 at 12:32

Atul Jain

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1 Comment

jonrsharpe Over a year ago

if package just tests whether package isn't an empty string - why?

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