Python package manager UI

[vkaidalov-rft]

Problem

I think it would be useful to have a builtin Python package manager UI similar to the existing JupyterLab extension manager but used for Python packages. In this case, users won't have to enter commands in terminals to browse and install new packages via pip/conda. The package manager is supposed to manage the packages of the environment used only by Python kernels and the Jupyter Notebook + JupyterLab installation, though.

Proposed Solution

The package manager will be available in the left sidebar, near the existing Extension Manager. It should also show the versions of the installed packages and probably the version of the Python interpreter.

Additional context

There is Library manager in JetBrains Datalore. It enables users to search for and install packages, look up current versions of the installed packages and install them from Git repositories.

Also, there is the Mamba Navigator, a Web UI for managing conda environments. Although the Mamba Navigator is great for managing several environments within one UI, it should still be installed as an extension. So, I think that having a simpler basic UI out-of-the-box for managing the Python packages of the environment used by JupyterLab itself does make sense.

[Zsailer]

For reference, the Cal Poly interns worked on a package installer UI for Jupyterlab

https://github.com/jupytercalpoly/jupyterlab-pkginstaller

[fcollonval]

For reference too, there is also the conda packages and environments extension: https://github.com/mamba-org/gator

[pacospace]

for reference: https://github.com/thoth-station/jupyterlab-requirements to allow reproducibility and shareability of notebooks. It has UI, CLI and magic commands(thoth-station/jupyterlab-requirements#356) to handle python dependencies.

It can use thoth(https://thoth-station.ninja/) / pipenv(https://github.com/pypa/pipenv) for resolution engines and micropipenv for installation: https://github.com/thoth-station/micropipenv in specific optimized kernel for the notebook.

It can handle different kernels (also extension to delete them from the UI directly: https://github.com/thoth-station/jupyterlab-requirements#delete-kernels) and overlays.

[jasongrout]

This issue is on the 4.0 planning project. In the JupyterLab dev meeting this morning, we did not find anyone who was willing to do this by the end of the year to make the 4.0 release. If there is someone willing to work on this, please comment here (and please come to the JLab dev meeting and let us know). If no one has volunteered by next week (3 Nov), we'll take it off of the 4.0 planning project. If someone volunteers to do it by the end of the year, we can always put it back on the 4.0 roadmap.

[fridex]

Just a humble idea for a possible smooth integration - given a large number of resolvers and packaging formats available, would it be reasonable to design a package manager programming interface so other projects can integrate (?).