pip is a replacement for easy_install (from python-setuptools). It uses
mostly the same techniques for finding packages, so packages that were
made easy_installable should be pip-installable as well.
pip is meant to improve on easy_install. Some of the improvements:
- All packages are downloaded before installation. Partially-completed
installation doesn't occur as a result.
- Care is taken to present useful output on the console.
- The reasons for actions are kept track of. For instance, if a package
is being installed, pip keeps track of why that package was required.
- Error messages should be useful.
- The code is relatively concise and cohesive, making it easier to use
programmatically.
- Packages don't have to be installed as egg archives, they can be
installed flat (while keeping the egg metadata).
- Native support for other version control systems (Git, Mercurial and
Bazaar).
- Uninstallation of packages.
- Simple to define fixed sets of requirements and reliably reproduce a
set of packages.
pip is complementary with virtualenv, and it is encouraged that you use
virtualenv to isolate your installation.
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