--- title: New pip flag fixes longstanding Python frustration description: pip 26.2 introduces a new `--only-deps` flag that installs only the runtime dependencies of a package without installing the package itself. This resolves a... canonical: https://daily.dev/posts/new-pip-flag-fixes-longstanding-python-frustration-erwljqdxc twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:site: @dailydotdev og:type: website og:site_name: daily.dev og:title: New pip flag fixes longstanding Python frustration | daily.dev og:description: pip 26.2 introduces a new `--only-deps` flag that installs only the runtime dependencies of a package without installing the package itself. This resolves a... og:url: https://daily.dev/posts/new-pip-flag-fixes-longstanding-python-frustration-erwljqdxc og:image: https://api.daily.dev/og/posts/eRWljQDxC.png og:image:alt: New pip flag fixes longstanding Python frustration og:image:width: 1200 og:image:height: 630 og:locale: en --- > ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://daily.dev/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # New pip flag fixes longstanding Python frustration **[InfoWorld](https://daily.dev/sources/infoworld)** · 2 min read · 2 upvotes · 0 comments ## Summary pip 26.2 introduces a new `--only-deps` flag that installs only the runtime dependencies of a package without installing the package itself. This resolves a 16-year-old frustration for Python developers who previously had to rely on manual workarounds or third-party tools like `uv sync --no-install-project`. The feature is particularly useful for CI workflows, creating isolated test environments, and building source distributions. The release is scheduled for the end of July 2026. ## Full article daily.dev links to this article rather than hosting it. Read it at the original source: ## Questions this post answers ### How can I install only the dependencies of a Python package without installing the package itself using pip? Pip version 26.2 adds the flag pip install --only-deps, which installs only the runtime dependencies of a given package without installing the package itself. It does not install build dependencies, only runtime ones. This solves a long-requested feature gap that previously forced developers to manually extract dependency lists or rely on third-party tools. Pip 26.2 is scheduled for release by the end of July 2026. _Track packaging changes like pip's new only-deps flag on daily.dev before they hit your CI pipeline._ ### Is there an existing way to install only a Python project's dependencies without installing the project, before pip supports it natively? Yes, uv sync --no-install-project already provides this behavior in the uv package installer. Pip's upcoming --only-deps flag in version 26.2 brings the same capability natively into pip, reducing the need to reach for third-party tools like uv or manual workarounds just to get a dependencies-only install for testing or CI source distribution builds. _Developers comparing uv and pip workflows can follow tooling shifts like this on daily.dev._ ## Similar posts on daily.dev - [Pip 26.1 Ships Dependency Cooldowns and Experimental Lockfile Support to Combat Supply Chain Attacks](https://daily.dev/posts/pip-26-1-ships-dependency-cooldowns-and-experimental-lockfile-support-to-combat-supply-chain-attacks-j2wgrl3af) · InfoQ · 1 upvotes · 0 comments - [pip 26.1 released](https://daily.dev/posts/pip-26-1-released-fdhfadwuu) · LWN.net · 0 upvotes · 0 comments - [uv vs pip: Python Packaging and Dependency Management – Real Python](https://daily.dev/posts/uv-vs-pip-python-packaging-and-dependency-management-real-python-y2d0smxfy) · Real Python · 0 upvotes · 0 comments --- Tags: [#python](https://daily.dev/tags/python), [#pip](https://daily.dev/tags/pip) [View this post on daily.dev](https://daily.dev/posts/new-pip-flag-fixes-longstanding-python-frustration-erwljqdxc) ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://daily.dev/#organization","name":"daily.dev","url":"https://daily.dev","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://daily.dev/apple-touch-icon.png","width":180,"height":180},"sameAs":["https://twitter.com/dailydotdev","https://github.com/dailydotdev","https://www.linkedin.com/company/daily-dev-ltd"]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https://daily.dev/#website","url":"https://daily.dev","name":"daily.dev","publisher":{"@id":"https://daily.dev/#organization"},"potentialAction":{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https://daily.dev/search?q={search_term_string}"},"query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}}]} {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"TechArticle","headline":"New pip flag fixes longstanding Python frustration","url":"https://daily.dev/posts/new-pip-flag-fixes-longstanding-python-frustration-erwljqdxc","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://daily.dev/posts/new-pip-flag-fixes-longstanding-python-frustration-erwljqdxc"},"datePublished":"2026-07-23T18:43:32.609Z","dateModified":"2026-09-13T21:55:21.965Z","description":"pip 26.2 introduces a new `--only-deps` flag that installs only the runtime dependencies of a package without installing the package itself. 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