Merge branch 'master' of github.com:TESScience/SPyFFI

Author: noqsi

INSTALL.md

@@ -7,6 +7,19 @@ These are instructions for installing SPyFFI and its (many) dependencies.
 
 If you don't have a relatively modern Python 2.7 distribution, download and install [`anaconda`](https://www.continuum.io/downloads). It's an easy way to get a self-managed Python distribution, where you have easy control over the libraries and can install packages with something like `pip`.
 
+### Sandboxed Installation
+
+***If you wish to globally install SPyFFI, skip this step.***
+
+It is convenient to make a self-contained sandboxed installation if you are wish to develop SPyFFI or do not otherwise have admin permission on your machine.
+
+To make a sandboxed installation, you will need [`virtualenv`](http://docs.python-guide.org/en/latest/dev/virtualenvs/) installed.  Then type at the command line, assuming you are using the BASH shell:
+
+    virtualenv -p $(which python2.7) spyffi_sandbox
+    source ./spyffi_sandbox/bin/activate
+
+Now all `pip` commands (such as the ones below) will install python modules into the `spyffi_sandbox` directory.
+
 ### Installing The Latest Release
 
 To install the latest release, type:
@@ -21,4 +34,4 @@ To install a developer snapshot, type:
 
 ### Data Files
 
-When you first import `spyffi`, it will download some files into `.tess/spyffi`.  If you would like these to be imported to somewhere else, set the `SPYFFIDATA` environment variable in your shell.
+When you first import `spyffi`, it will download some files into `~/.tess/spyffi`.  If you would like these to be imported to somewhere else, export the `SPYFFIDATA` environment variable in your shell.