Support pip --upgrade-strategy flag (especially 'eager') for upgrading Python package dependencies

[cidrblock]

Problem

Currently, the Python package management API provides an upgrade option that adds the --upgrade flag to pip installs. However, this does not upgrade already-installed dependencies of the target package(s). Users sometimes expect that upgrading a package will also upgrade its dependencies, but pip's default behavior (--upgrade-strategy only-if-needed) will only upgrade dependencies if required.

To upgrade a package and all of its available dependencies, pip's documentation requires the --upgrade-strategy eager flag:

pip install --upgrade --upgrade-strategy eager <package>

Request

• Please add explicit support for the --upgrade-strategy pip flag in the package management API (e.g., via a new option, e.g. upgradeStrategy).
• This would allow users to request upgrades of dependencies eagerly (not just the minimal default strategy).
• The API could default to existing behavior for backward compatibility, but allow consumers to specify upgradeStrategy: 'eager' (or similar) to ensure dependencies are upgraded.

Example API usage

await api.managePackages(environment, {
    install: ['my-package'],
    upgrade: true,
    upgradeStrategy: 'eager' // new option
});

Currently, users have no way to influence pip's --upgrade-strategy via the API and must work around by calling pip manually.

Benefit

• Better aligns with real-world needs for dependency freshness
• Matches pip's full range of capabilities
• Avoids surprises/limitations for API users expecting eager upgrades

Thanks for considering!