Install local extras in Python

Question

setup.py of my package X uses setuptools to optionally install an extra package Y, via the extras_require parameter.

Now package Y disappeared from PyPi and, as far as I can tell, from the visible Internet. easy_install X[Y] fails with error: Could not find suitable distribution for Y.

However, I still have a local copy of Y's tarball. Y is a pure-Python package.

What is the best way to modify setup.py to allow this (local?) optional extra?

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EDIT: The fix is meant to be temporary, until I figure out a proper replacement. I do not want to start officially maintaining Y myself :)

Answer 1

You could subclass setuptools.Command and then overload the default install command. Then you could have THAT execute a subprocess that installs the dependency. It's a hack, but that's what you were asking for!

In setup.py:

from setuptools import Command
class MyInstallCommand(Command):
    # Overload the 'install' command to do default install but also install
    # your provided tarball. Blah blah blah read the docs on what to do here.

setup(
    name='mypackage',
    # etc ... and then...
    # Overload the 'install' command 
    cmdclass={
        'install': MyInstallCommand, 
    }
)

I'm grossly oversimplifying it, but this is the basic gist.

Answer 2

I found a quick workaround via the dependency_links option of setuptools.

1. Upload Y's tarball to some url http://URL_Y.
2. Add the line: dependency_links = ['http://URL_Y'], to my setup.py.

Now easy_install X[Y] works and I didn't have to register Y anywhere. I will delete it from URL_Y as soon as I have a proper fix.