pip resolution_warning ai_generated partial

INFO: pip is looking at multiple versions of X to determine which version is compatible (backtracking)

ID: pip/backtracking-taking-long

Also available as: JSON · Markdown
75%Fix Rate
80%Confidence
50Evidence
2023-01-01First Seen

Version Compatibility

VersionStatusIntroducedDeprecatedNotes
24 active — — —

Root Cause

pip dependency resolver backtracking through many versions. Can take minutes to hours.

generic

Workarounds

  1. 88% success Pin more versions in requirements.txt to reduce the search space 
    # Pin specific versions to reduce resolver search space:
# requirements.txt:
numpy==1.26.4
pandas==2.2.0
scikit-learn==1.4.0

# Generate pinned file from loose requirements:
pip-compile requirements.in --resolver=backtracking

    Sources: https://pip.pypa.io/en/stable/topics/dependency-resolution/

  2. 90% success Use pip-compile (pip-tools) to pre-resolve and lock versions 
    pip-compile requirements.in

    Sources: https://pip-tools.readthedocs.io/en/stable/

  3. 82% success Upgrade pip — newer versions have faster resolver: pip install --upgrade pip 
    pip install --upgrade pip

    Sources: https://pip.pypa.io/en/stable/installation/

Dead Ends

Common approaches that don't work:

  1. Cancel and use --no-deps 70% fail

    Skips dependency resolution — may install incompatible versions

Error Chain

Frequently confused with: