timofurrer
try
Python

Dead simple CLI tool to try Python packages - It's never been easier! :package:

Last updated Apr 19, 2026
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README

try - It's never been easier to try Python packages =================================================== |pypi| |license| |wheel|

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

|demo|

Features


  • 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
Usage

.. code:: bash

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

Usage examples


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

Try single python package:

.. code:: bash

try requests try flask

Try multiple python packages in one session:

.. code:: bash

try requests flask

Try specific version of a package:

.. code:: bash

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

Try package from GitHub repository:

.. code:: bash

try / # 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:

.. code:: bash

try name>:name> # syntax example try click-didyoumean:clickdidyoumean # install click-didyoumean but import clickdidyoumean

Try package in already existing virtualenv:

.. code:: bash

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

โ‡ข see virtualenv config value in env section in configuration_ file.

Try package with specific python version:

.. code:: bash

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

โ‡ข see python config value in env section in configuration_ file.

Try package with specific shell/repl:

.. code:: bash

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

โ‡ข see shell config value in env section in configuration_ file.

Try package writing a little script instead of opening shell:

.. code:: bash

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

โ‡ข see alwaysuseeditor config value in env section in configuration_ file.

Keep virtualenv files after try run:

.. code:: bash

try requests --keep

โ‡ข see keep config value in env section in configuration_ file.

Use a specific location for the virtualenv files:

.. code:: bash

try requests --tmpdir ~/.try

โ‡ข see tmpdir config value in env section in configuration_ file.

.. _configuration:

Configuration


`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.getappdir

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

.. code:: ini

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

Installation


Use pip to install try:

.. code::

pip3 install trypackage

Help ~~~~

try comes with an awesome CLI interface thanks to click.

.. code::

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.

.. |pypi| image:: https://img.shields.io/pypi/v/trypackage.svg?style=flat&label=version :target: https://pypi.python.org/pypi/trypackage :alt: Latest version released on PyPi

.. |license| image:: https://img.shields.io/badge/license-MIT-blue.svg?style=flat :target: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/timofurrer/try/master/LICENSE :alt: Package license

.. |wheel| image:: https://img.shields.io/pypi/wheel/radish-bdd.svg :target: https://pypi.python.org/pypi/trypackage :alt: Package is available as wheel

.. |demo| image:: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/timofurrer/try/master/docs/asciicast.gif :target: https://asciinema.org/a/bd60nu08dbklh5d16lyd69fvx :alt: Demo

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