Using easy_install to download source files

Python's setuptools package includes the easy_install script, which provides a convenient mechanism for installing a Python package from the PyPi repository.  Normally, easy_install installs a Python package in the Python site packages directory.  However, I recently discovered that easy_install can download the source for Python package.  For example, the following command downloads the Coopr optimization package into the coopr directory:

easy_install -q --editable --build-directory . Coopr

I had to browse a variety of web pages before I figured this syntax out.  Enjoy!

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