How to Install Python Packages Directly from GitHub with pip

Command structure

The command

pip install "unsloth[colab] @ git+https://github.com/unslothai/unsloth.git"

installs the unsloth package together with the optional colab extra, pulling the source directly from the GitHub repository.

pip install

pip install

is the standard tool for installing Python packages from PyPI or any other supported source.

Package name and extra

unsloth[colab]

consists of: unsloth – the base package. [colab] – an extra that adds dependencies required for Google Colab. When the extra is specified, pip resolves and installs those additional packages automatically.

Git source specification

The @ git+https://github.com/unslothai/unsloth.git suffix tells pip to fetch the package from a Git repository instead of PyPI. git+https:// – indicates a Git URL. https://github.com/unslothai/unsloth.git – the HTTPS clone URL of the repository.

Full meaning

Install unsloth with the colab extra.

Retrieve the latest commit from the GitHub repository.

Why install from a GitHub source?

Latest development version – obtain updates before they are released on PyPI.

Access to unreleased features – use functionality that exists only in a specific branch or commit.

Immediate bug fixes – test fixes that have not yet been packaged for PyPI.

No PyPI publishing required – useful for private or experimental code.

Alternative installation syntaxes

pip also supports other source formats:

Direct archive URL – install a released .tar.gz or .zip file.

pip install https://github.com/username/repository/archive/refs/tags/v1.0.0.zip

Specific branch or commit – append @branch_name or @commit_hash to the Git URL.

pip install git+https://github.com/username/repository.git@branch_name
pip install git+https://github.com/username/repository.git@commit_hash

Practical example

To install unsloth with Colab dependencies from the current HEAD of the repository:

pip install "unsloth[colab] @ git+https://github.com/unslothai/unsloth.git"

If a particular commit fixes an issue, replace HEAD with the commit hash:

pip install "unsloth[colab] @ git+https://github.com/unslothai/unsloth.git@<em>commit_hash</em>"

Summary

Using the @ git+https:// syntax with pip install allows developers to:

Install packages that are not published on PyPI or that are private.

Access the most recent development code, including new features and bug fixes.

Automatically include environment‑specific dependencies via extras (e.g., [colab] for Google Colab).

This approach increases flexibility and speeds up iteration when working with rapidly evolving Python libraries.