pipenv install --system - unsure what it does

https://pipenv.readthedocs.io/en/latest/basics/ reads:

–system — Use the system pip command rather than the one from your virtualenv.

https://pipenv.readthedocs.io/en/latest/advanced/ reads:

Deploying System Dependencies You can tell Pipenv to install a Pipfile’s contents into its parent system with the --system flag: $ pipenv install --system This is useful for managing the system Python, and deployment infrastructure (e.g. Heroku does this).

I am having a hard time understanding what it does with these two descriptions. basic says it uses the pip command from the system. Which I assume means whatever which pip points to when you do not have a venv activated?

advanced says in the headline “Deploying System Dependencies”. This makes it sounds to me it copies the system’s site-packages directories into the virtual environment. I assume that assumption is incorrect?

The rest of the text in advanced makes it sound exactly like I am assuming it does when reading the basic text. But it is worded differently between the two.

To summarize:

• Is my assumption correct that pipenv install --system installs into the same location as where which pip shows when you have not activated a venv?
• Could this text be made easier to understand in both basic and advanced?

Thank you for a nice tool.

[jxltom]

It will make sure pipfile.lock is not out-of-date and only install the packages to your system without creating virtualenv.

[thernstig]

@frostming No, but others might 😃 Just was confused why it was closed with that particular MR, but I am fine generally closing this.