No longer able to install packages from local files (source/wheel)

[jni]

When the plugin manager was part of napari, it could be used to install local plugins — path to a local source, or drag and drop a wheel. (Zulip discussion) That feature seems to have been lost at some point in the migration to its own repo. It is high priority to gain it back! (Perhaps also with the ability to install conda binary bundles? The original use case was to install locally-developed, unpublished plugins, but another use case, raised in Zulip, is to install without an internet connection.)

[willingc]

Temporary workaround suggested by @Czaki in zulip discussion

Open console, and use !pip install /path/to/wheel/file (The ! is important)

[psobolewskiPhD]

This still works for me? And I believe conda wheels work too, if napari was installed using conda.

[Czaki]

Maybe you use older napari with bundled manager? I do not see this in the new one code.

[willingc]

Original poster in Zulip installed with .exe

easy way to install plugins into a bundled napari app (installed with the .exe installer from the latest release) on a machine that doesn't have internet access for security reasons?

[willingc]

Screenshot when installed 0.5.6 on Mac arm with bundled installer:

[psobolewskiPhD]

Oh good catch @willingc
I have manager Version: 0.1.4 so the latest, but I tested with a regular pip install.
So it looks like the limitation is in the bundle.
Feels like conda wheels should at least work? and pip could warn like it does if you change the installation method?