How to use pip on a python by path?

Question

This question shows how to use pip for different python versions. However, I have the same version of python installed in two different paths. Let's not ask why, if I remove one, things break.

$ /usr/local/bin/python -c "import sys; print sys.version"
2.7.10 (default, Jun 10 2015, 19:42:47) 
[GCC 4.2.1 Compatible Apple LLVM 6.1.0 (clang-602.0.53)]
$ /usr/bin/python -c "import sys; print sys.version"
2.7.10 (default, Jul 14 2015, 19:46:27) 
[GCC 4.2.1 Compatible Apple LLVM 6.0 (clang-600.0.39)]

pip seems to install packages to /usr/local/bin/python.

How do I install a package to /usr/bin/python?

I'm on OS X, Yosemite (10.10).

wim · Accepted Answer · 2015-12-23T22:51:51.593

1

For two python installations you can have two pips.

Install a pip for the other python:

sudo /usr/bin/python -m easy_install pip

Execute pip as a module:

/usr/bin/python -m pip install --user your_package

Recommend to symlink them to separate names.

edited Dec 23 '15 at 22:51

answered Dec 23 '15 at 22:41

wim

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Thank you! But "/usr/bin/python: No module named pip" – dfrankow Dec 23 '15 at 22:43
P.s. do you know about [virtualenv](https://virtualenv.readthedocs.org/en/latest/) ? – wim Dec 23 '15 at 22:47
This worked! Both pip-s seem to be living together somehow. – dfrankow Dec 23 '15 at 22:47
It's normal. And in fact very common to have `pip` and `pip3` on the same system. – wim Dec 23 '15 at 22:49
Can't use virtualenv, I want to try using it from R (rPython). I understand how f-ed up this seems. – dfrankow Dec 23 '15 at 22:49

Pierre Michard · Answer 2 · 2015-12-23T22:47:25.377

0

you could :

update your PATH variable to give priority to /usr/bin/python over /usr/local/bin/python
call pip by its full path:

/usr/bin/pip install package

[EDIT] pip seems not to be present on /usr/bin on Yosemite, so you should use easy_install instead

/usr/bin/easy_install package

edited Dec 23 '15 at 22:47

answered Dec 23 '15 at 22:44

Pierre Michard

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Thanks! pip has a shebang (#!) of the wrong python. Then, when I try executing it directly (/usr/bin/python `which pip` install package), the right python complains it doesn't know pip exists. I'm afraid to easy-install for /usr/bin/python for fear pip will freak out. – dfrankow Dec 23 '15 at 22:46
If you have two installations of python, you can/should have two installations of pip. Trying to use the same version of pip for multiple python versions will be a world of pain .. – wim Dec 23 '15 at 22:48
This might have worked, but I got the other one to work, so off I go. Thanks. – dfrankow Dec 23 '15 at 22:51

How to use pip on a python by path?

2 Answers2