Pip install python package into a specific directory other than the default install location

Question

The default location where pip installes packages on my Ubuntu system is '/usr/local/lib/pytho2.7/dist-packages/' which I think is the default in general. I am using Enthought python distribution (EPD not canopy) and would like to install a package into EPD as I usually work with the python from the EPD distribution on my system. I would like to know into which directory inside EPD the new files need to be installed using pip ; as the directory structure for EPD on linux seems to be quite different from the EPD directory structure on MAC OS for where there seem to be many examples.

Also I have come across this :

pip install --install-option="--prefix=$PREFIX_PATH" package_name

as the accepted answer to a question similar to this. I would like to know what the purpose of the $PREFIX_PATH environment variable is as mine is currently blank. And what path I need to specify on Ubuntu for my Enthought EPD distribution to install python modules.

I apologize for the relatively naive question but I am quite new to EPD on ubuntu and am still trying to figure it out.

yes but I would like to know how to do this without using a virtualenv. — user2502020, Jun 20 '13 at 15:07
this might help:http://stackoverflow.com/questions/2915471/pip-how-do-i-install-a-python-package-into-a-different-directory — PepperoniPizza, Jun 20 '13 at 15:12
You're ment to replace `$PREFIX_PATH` with whatever install directory you'd like to have. — mata, Jun 20 '13 at 15:47

RayLuo · Answer 1 · 2016-12-04T20:55:42.750

51

This line should work for everyone, as mentioned in the documentation.

pip install package_name -t any/path/i/like

PS:

And to address the comment of @CPiLL, the any/path/i/like can really be anything, such as /tmp/my-test-env. The package being installed in this way will NOT be available for your usual python environment, in fact they will NOT even show up using pip list. And python -c "import package_name" will generally FAIL with ImportError exception, unless you cd into that folder first:

cd /tmp/my-test-env
python -c "import package-name"

How this technique would be useful is beyond this answer.

edited Dec 04 '16 at 20:55

answered May 02 '14 at 19:07

RayLuo

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`error: must supply either home or prefix/exec-prefix -- not both` – Anentropic Apr 16 '15 at 16:21
I think `pip install X --user` is the shortcut – CpILL Jul 03 '15 at 04:46
Readable command: `pip install --target any/path/i/like package_name` – fabianegli Apr 12 '22 at 07:35

score 5 · Answer 2 · edited May 23 '17 at 10:31

System: Ubuntu 12.04, Enthought Python Distribution (this is where I wanted to install a new python module)

So the prefix_path environment variable didn't work for me and pip still kept installing it in the default location. But I used How do I change the default directory that pip installs to?

question as a guide. And one of the answers helped me achieve what I needed.

 pip install -d <path_to_my_directory>

For the path I used: path_to_epd_directory/lib/python2.7/site-packages

This puts the tar.gz file into the site-packages

Then extract it using:

tar -zxvf pymodule.tar.gz

a directory named pymodule is created, cd into that module and type:

 python setup.py install

and that should do the job.

score -1 · Answer 3 · answered Jun 20 '13 at 23:00

-1

Instead, you could use a copy of pip that has been installed into your EPD installation.

$ path-to-EPD/bin/enpkg pip # Or simply enpkg pip, if EPD is on your PATH. 
$ path-to-EPD/bin/pip install <package-name>

answered Jun 20 '13 at 23:00

punchagan

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score -1 · Answer 4 · edited Oct 21 '17 at 07:06

-1

This worked for me on Ubuntu Gnome 17.04. Installing PyMySQL to specific dir:

sudo pip install PyMySQL -t /home/mahmoud/app

edited Oct 21 '17 at 07:06

sheldonzy

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answered Oct 21 '17 at 06:10

mahmoud alaa

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`sudo pip install` should never be used. – wim Jan 07 '20 at 05:36

score -1 · Answer 5 · answered Jan 14 '19 at 07:31

This answer worked in windows OS
Short answer: To install package to the specific folder using -t option ex:pip install packageX -t lib/, then add this folder to PYTHONPAHT

Long answer:

install virtualenv to .env folder
pip install with -t option, example install to lib folder of my project (named 3)
(.env) d:\tmp\3>pip install packageX -t lib/
show list of packages :

    (.env) d:\tmp\3>pip list
    Package    Version
    ---------- ----------
    pip        18.1
    setuptools 40.6.3
    ...

Not see your package ? open command-prompt as administrator right and set PYTHONPATH

now new command prompt and activate env will see your packages

zxw · Answer 6 · 2020-01-07T05:24:21.717

-1

You can use this code to install you package to a specific path.

pip install [package name] --target /path/to

edited Jan 07 '20 at 05:24

answered Jan 07 '20 at 00:50

zxw

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Please consider adding a comment to what your code does. A single code line without any feedback is a very low quality answer – Simas Joneliunas Jan 07 '20 at 01:44
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This is the same as the top answer from years ago. `-t` is just shorthand for `--target`. – wim Jan 07 '20 at 05:36

Pip install python package into a specific directory other than the default install location

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