Reduce license verbosity in pip show output

[adriengcql]

What's the problem this feature will solve?

The output from pip show can be quite verbose when the package includes the full license, making it harder to get the other basic information like the version.

Example: pip show numpy

Describe the solution you'd like

One solution could be to remove or trim the license in the default output, and fully display it when using the --verbose option.

Code of Conduct

• I agree to follow the PSF Code of Conduct.

[ichard26]

FWIW, with PEP 639 (which is currently awaiting pronouncement), there will be a well-defined way for distributions to declare their license(s), as both a SPDX expression and a list of license files (or equivalent legal notices) in the metadata. Transitioning to reading the new License-Expression field would likely be the best way forward.

I have no comment on whether and how pip should improve its handling of legacy license fields.