pip install --editable with a VCS url
<p>In <code>man pip</code> it says under <code>--editable &lt;path/url&gt;</code>, </p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Install a project in editable mode (i.e.  setuptools "develop mode")
  from a local project path or a VCS url</p>
</blockquote>

<p>What does that mean? Can I give it a repo branch on Github, and it'll go get it and install it and keep it updated as the branch changes?</p>

<p>If you just want to install package from git repo <a href="http://stackoverflow.com/questions/20101834/pip-install-from-github-repo-branch?rq=1">read</a></p>

<p><code>-e</code> or <code>--editable</code> is little bit different, it is used, as stated in docs, for setuptools's <a href="https://setuptools.readthedocs.io/en/latest/setuptools.html?highlight=develop%20mode#development-mode" rel="nofollow">development mode</a>. It makes installed packages editable.</p>

<p>Yes you can give it link to github. Read this <a href="http://stackoverflow.com/questions/4830856/is-it-possible-to-use-pip-to-install-a-package-from-a-private-github-repository#4837571">answer</a> for more info. But this link will only work if this repository contains <code>setup.py</code> with all installation instructions. And this package will be updated when you call</p>

<pre><code>pip install -U -e &lt;url&gt;
</code></pre>

<p>But only if version of package in <code>setup.py</code> is higher than the one in your environment.</p>

<p>You can forcefully reinstall this package if you need to, when source did change but version didn't.</p>

<pre><code>pip install -I -e &lt;url&gt;
</code></pre>

python git package pip