try is an easy-to-use cli tool to try out Python packages.

• Install specific package version from PyPI
• Install package from GitHub
• Install in virtualenv using specific version of python
• Specify alternative python package import name
• Keep try environment after interactive session
• Launch interactive python console with already imported package
• Launch editor instead of interpreter
• Launch arbitrary python shell instead of default python shell

try requests try requests --ipython try requests --shell ptipython try requests -p 3.5 try requests -p /usr/bin/python3.4.1 try requests==2.8.1 try kennethreitz/requests --ipython try click-didyoumean:click_didyoumean # if python package name is different then pip package name try requests --editor

Note: most of the following cli options can also be configured in theconfigurationfile!

Try single python package:

try requests try flask

Try multiple python packages in one session:

try requests flask

Try specific version of a package:

try requests==2.8.1 # tries version 2.8.1 of requests instead of latest

Try package from GitHub repository:

try <user>/<repo># syntax example try kennethreitz/requests # installs master branch of Kenneth's requests package from GitHub

Try package but import with different name than package name:

try <package_name>:<import_name># syntax example try click-didyoumean:click_didyoumean # install click-didyoumean but import click_didyoumean

Try package in already existing virtualenv:

try requests --virtualenv ~/.try/sandbox # use virtualenv at ~/.try/sandbox

⇢ see virtualenv config value in env section inconfigurationfile.

Try package with specific python version:

try requests --python 3.5 # use python3.5 in virtualenv try requests -p 2.7 # use python2.7 in virtualenv try requests -p ~/work/cpython/bin/python # use python binary from specific location

⇢ see python config value in env section inconfigurationfile.

Try package with specific shell/repl:

try requests --shell python # use python repl (default value) try requests --shell ipython # use ipython try requests --shell ptpython # use ptpython try requests --shell ptipython # use ptipython try requests --shell bpython # use bpython try requests --ipython # use ipython - an alias for --shell ipython

⇢ see shell config value in env section inconfigurationfile.

Try package writing a little script instead of opening shell:

try requests --editor # opens $EDITOR or editor instead of shell

⇢ see always_use_editor config value in env section inconfigurationfile.

Keep virtualenv files after try run:

try requests --keep

⇢ see keep config value in env section inconfigurationfile.

Use a specific location for the virtualenv files:

try requests --tmpdir ~/.try

⇢ see tmpdir config value in env section inconfigurationfile.

try can be configured to your preferences - like always use ipython as a shell or always use python3.5. The configuration file is located in your users application configuration directory in a file called config.ini. This location is OS dependent and is specified here: http://click.pocoo.org/5/api/#click.get_app_dir

The following config.ini file shows all available configuration options:

[env]virtualenv=~/.try/sandbox python=3.5 shell=ipython keep=false always_use_editor=false tmpdir=~/.try

Use pip to install try:

pip3 install trypackage 

try comes with an awesome CLI interface thanks to click.

Usage: try [OPTIONS] [PACKAGES]... Easily try out python packages. Options: --virtualenv TEXT Use already existing virtualenv. -p, --python TEXT The python version to use. --ipython Use ipython instead of python. --shell TEXT Specify the python shell to use. (This will override --ipython -k, --keep Keep try environment files. -e, --editor Try with editor instead of interpreter. --tmpdir TEXT Specify location for temporary directory. --version Show the version and exit. --help Show this message and exit. 

try was inspired by https://github.com/VictorBjelkholm/trymodule.