beeware / beeware/briefcase

Improve error messages when wheels cannot be found

Open
#2,365 1 comment 0 reactions 0 assignees View on GitHub
android enhancement linux web windows
Dominant language
Python
Stars
3.3k
Forks
549
Avg merge
1d 4h
Merged PRs (30d)
40

Description

### What is the problem or limitation you are having?

PR #2303 improved the error messages on iOS and macOS when a binary wheel cannot be found. On these platforms, binary wheels are enforced, so a failure to install a wheel means a wheel could not be found.

An analogous message would be useful on Windows, Linux, Android and web.

On Windows, Android and Web, we could also potentially enforce binary wheels. We can’t on Linux, because the manylinux format won’t allow for binary versions of some wheels, so compilation will always be required.

This is a particular problem because `pip`s errors for a missing wheel often manifests as part of a stack trace that sort of hints that the problem might be a compilation issue. On Android and Web in particular, this is a problem because binary wheels *cannot* be compiled on demand.

### Describe the solution you'd like

When a wheel cannot be installed on a platform, the error message should indicate to the user that the source of the problem is a missing wheel. This may also involve enforcing the use of binary wheels on some platforms

### Describe alternatives you've considered

Status quo.

### Additional context

beeware/toga#3598 is a recent manifestation of this for Android.

Contributor guide

Open the contributing guide

Assessment

This issue has not been assessed yet.

Get new issues in your inbox

A short digest of beginner-friendly GitHub issues.