# Pkg\> dev --local /some/path doesn't make a local clone in ./dev

**URL:** <https://discourse.julialang.org/t/pkg-dev-local-some-path-doesnt-make-a-local-clone-in-dev/47316>\
**Category:** General Usage\
**Tags:** question\
**Created:** [September 26, 2020, 3:08pm UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/pkg-dev-local-some-path-doesnt-make-a-local-clone-in-dev/47316 "2020-09-26T15:08:50Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Tamas\_Papp](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/julialang/user_avatar/discourse.julialang.org/tamas_papp/32/25949_2.png) [@Tamas\_Papp](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/Tamas_Papp)\
**Post date:** [September 26, 2020, 3:08pm UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/pkg-dev-local-some-path-doesnt-make-a-local-clone-in-dev/47316/1 "2020-09-26T15:08:50Z")

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I am trying to use `pkg> dev --local` for a package available locally, but it seems that `--local` is ignored and no copy in `dev` is made. Is this expected behavior or a known issue?

`dev --local` works for registered packages of course.

I can replicate the issue in `master` and 1.5.2.

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**Author:** ![lobingera](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/julialang/user_avatar/discourse.julialang.org/lobingera/32/211_2.png) [@lobingera](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/lobingera)\
**Post date:** [September 26, 2020, 3:24pm UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/pkg-dev-local-some-path-doesnt-make-a-local-clone-in-dev/47316/2 "2020-09-26T15:24:56Z")

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I’d expect this behaviour.

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**Author:** ![ctkelley](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/julialang/user_avatar/discourse.julialang.org/ctkelley/32/10684_2.png) [@ctkelley](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/ctkelley)\
**Post date:** [September 26, 2020, 3:28pm UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/pkg-dev-local-some-path-doesnt-make-a-local-clone-in-dev/47316/3 "2020-09-26T15:28:41Z")

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I did this awhile back with

`dev "path_name"`  
or  
`dev --local "path_name"`

or something like that. Sorry for the lack of precision, but it was a few months ago.

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**Author:** ![fredrikekre](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/julialang/user_avatar/discourse.julialang.org/fredrikekre/32/1688_2.png) [@fredrikekre](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/fredrikekre)\
**Post date:** [September 26, 2020, 4:04pm UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/pkg-dev-local-some-path-doesnt-make-a-local-clone-in-dev/47316/4 "2020-09-26T16:04:22Z")

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I think it should just be clarified in the docstring that `--local` only works when you give a package as an argument, and not a path (similar to [https://github.com/JuliaLang/Pkg.jl/pull/2037/files](https://github.com/JuliaLang/Pkg.jl/pull/2037/files)).

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Tamas\_Papp](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/julialang/user_avatar/discourse.julialang.org/tamas_papp/32/25949_2.png) [@Tamas\_Papp](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/Tamas_Papp)\
**Post date:** [September 27, 2020, 6:49am UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/pkg-dev-local-some-path-doesnt-make-a-local-clone-in-dev/47316/5 "2020-09-27T06:49:40Z")

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Thanks, I will make a small PR for the docs.

Is there a rationale for this, or just not implemented yet?

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Tamas\_Papp](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/julialang/user_avatar/discourse.julialang.org/tamas_papp/32/25949_2.png) [@Tamas\_Papp](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/Tamas_Papp)\
**Post date:** [October 2, 2020, 9:08am UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/pkg-dev-local-some-path-doesnt-make-a-local-clone-in-dev/47316/6 "2020-10-02T09:08:05Z")

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[https://github.com/JuliaLang/Pkg.jl/pull/2070](https://github.com/JuliaLang/Pkg.jl/pull/2070)