diff --git a/src/python/jw/pkg/lib/Distro.py b/src/python/jw/pkg/lib/Distro.py
index 05ca946f..c0f331b9 100644
--- a/src/python/jw/pkg/lib/Distro.py
+++ b/src/python/jw/pkg/lib/Distro.py
@@ -109,15 +109,51 @@ class Distro(abc.ABC):
 
     # -- install
 
+    # Pass names to the package manager
     @abc.abstractmethod
     async def _install(self, names: Iterable[str], only_update: bool) -> None:
         pass
 
+    # Default implementation assumes package manager can handle local files.
+    # Not true for all distros. Override if Distro knows better.
+    async def _install_local_files(self, paths: Iterable[str], only_update: bool) -> None:
+        await self._install(paths, only_update=only_update)
+
+    # Download first and then install. Override if Distro knows better.
+    async def _install_urls(self, urls: Iterable[str], only_update: bool) -> None:
+        import tempfile
+        from .util import copy
+        with tempfile.TemporaryDirectory(prefix='jw-pkg-') as tmp:
+            paths: list[str] = []
+            for url in urls:
+                paths.append(await copy(url, tmp))
+            await self._install_local_files(paths, only_update=only_update)
+
+    # Default implementation installs in two steps:
+    # - Download URLs into local directories and install
+    # - Pass names to package manager
+    # Override if Distro knows better.
+    async def _install_urls_and_names(self, packages: Iterable[str], only_update: bool) -> None:
+        urls: list[str] = []
+        names: list[str] = []
+        for package in packages:
+            if package[0] == '/':
+                urls.append('file://' + package)
+                continue
+            if package.find('://') != -1:
+                urls.append(package)
+                continue
+            names.append(package)
+        if urls:
+            await self._install_urls(urls, only_update=only_update)
+        if names:
+            await self._install(names, only_update=only_update)
+
     async def install(self, names: Iterable[str], only_update: bool=False) -> None:
         if not names:
             log(WARNING, f'No packages specified for installation')
             return
-        return await self._install(names, only_update=only_update)
+        await self._install_urls_and_names(names, only_update=only_update)
 
     # -- delete