What is installing Python modules or packages?

Question

A Python module is just a .py source file. A Python package is simply a collection of modules.

So why do we need programs such as pip to 'install' Python modules? Why not just download the files, put them in our project's folder and import them?

What exactly does it mean to 'install' a module or a package? And what exactly does pip do?

Are things different on Windows and on Linux?

Answer 1

So why do we need programs such as pip to 'install' Python modules? Why not just download the files, put them in our project's folder and import them?

It's just meant to facilitate the installation of softwares without having to bundle all the dependencies nor ask the user to download the files.

You can type pip install mysoftware and that will also install the required dependencies. You can also upgrade a software easily.

What exactly does it mean to 'install' a module or a package? And what exactly does pip do?

It will copy the files in a directory that is in your Python path. This way you will be able to import the package without having to copy the directory in your project.