setup.py does 2 things before other commands: delete __dev__&#x2F;package_name, and copy files from root to __dev__&#x2F;package_name.<p>That means if you do `setup.py develop`, your links are pointing to the copy inside of __dev__, and not to the files in the root directory. So even if you modify files and commit changes, the installed link still points at the old installation - which is exactly how `develop` is not supposed to act.<p>&gt; `insideout` doesn&#x27;t delete the ugliness. It merely postpones it from the viewer&#x27;s eyes<p>I&#x27;d say it prioritises what&#x27;s supposed to be &quot;important&quot;. And it&#x27;s a very one-sided view of &quot;important&quot;.