UX design: what should pip output when it is backtracking during dependency resolution?

[ei8fdb]

WIP

Connected tickets

#8683

[uranusjr]

Also #8713, which is in the other direction: pip is showing downloads for a lot of package versions, and the user gets confused.

[McSinyx]

I'm adding GH-8346 to the list of similar tickets as well. I'm wondering if we want to close some of them as duplicate and keep the discussion in one central place.

[brainwane]

In order for the October release of pip (20.3) to be ready, we need to

• decide what pip should output when it is backtracking during dependency resolution -- need this by the end of August
• implement that behavior in code -- need to do this in September

Therefore I'm adding this item to the agenda for tomorrow's weekly meeting, so we can develop a plan of action.

[nlhkabu]

Plan of action: @pradyunsg to provide two alternative proposals for the output, to be reviewed by the UX team.

[ei8fdb]

Ticket #8975 has taken over from this ticket, and all design work is happening there. So I'm closing this one.