odd they don't do an sdist

@jonringer who is they? What's an sdist ?

@jonringer done,

Question, do you know why after I applied the changes you requested the following command to install the package stopped working:

nix-env -f pkgs/top-level/all-packages.nix -i aws-mfa

I have to use:

nix-env -f . -iA aws-mfa

The first example would otherwise give me the error:

error: cannot auto-call a function that has an argument without a default value ('lib')

This is actually why I didn't do it the way you suggested in the first place.
`

if you want to test a build, you shouldn't use nix-env, but rahter nix-build, and just do nix-build -A aws-mfa

@GrahamcOfBorg eval

@jonringer yeah sorry. I understand that but I was actually trying to install it as I wanted to use the package now.

@jonringer who is they?

they is upstream, the ones who created aws-mfa

What's an sdist ?

short for "source distribution", its one of the ways you can publish a package. A .whl file is a bdist_wheel format

If you need it locally for packaging another package, you can use an overlay https://nixos.wiki/wiki/Overlays

If you just need an environment where you can call it, you could idiomatic python method of using a venv to install and then use it within the venv. https://github.com/NixOS/nixpkgs/blob/master/doc/languages-frameworks/python.section.md#how-to-consume-python-modules-using-pip-in-a-virtual-environment-like-i-am-used-to-on-other-operating-systems

@jonringer closing as it seems this is not wanted. Thanks.

i would use this.