ERROR: Could not install packages due to an EnvironmentError: [Errno 13] Permission denied: '/var/project_env/bin/pip'

Question

First of all I am pretty new to setting up virtual env so I can run a Python rest api on it . :)

I installed the virtual env. in the /var folder of my Ubuntu server with sudo python3 -m venv project_env.

After activating the environment I tried to install Flask with following command: (project_env) mStege@homeserver:/var$ pip install Flask

I get this error:

ERROR: Could not install packages due to an EnvironmentError: 
[Errno 13] Permission denied: '/var/project_env/lib/python3.8/site-packages/itsdangerous-2.0.1.dist-info' Consider using the `--user` option or check the permissions.

After some research I tried following command to install Flask: pip3 install Flask --user Which give me this error:

ERROR: Can not perform a '--user' install. User site-packages are not visible in this virtualenv.

Has it something to do where I installed the virtual enviroment? I didn't put it in my homedir because there is a project-related website in the var folder and I want everything in one place. Also, there will be some other dudes I will be working with and I thought that it is quite suboptimal when they have to go through my home folder.

Hi, welcome here. Do you really need to create a venv with the super user? If not, don't create your venv using sudo. — Be Chiller Too, Nov 15 '21 at 09:56
@BeChillerToo because I get "Permission denied" if I try to create a venv in /var without using sudo... — Pixelherz, Nov 15 '21 at 10:21
Why do you create a venv in /var/? You could use pipenv to manage the venv for you, or you can create a venv alongside your source code. — Be Chiller Too, Nov 15 '21 at 10:39
@BeChillerToo Where should I place it else when I am working on it with multiple guys? I looked up the description of /var and thought it would be the right spot to install the venv for the restAPI so everybody has access to it without going through my homefolder... — Pixelherz, Nov 15 '21 at 10:52
You don't share your venv with other users. Each dev on the team has a virtual env, that comes from a requirements.txt (or Pipfile if you use Pipenv) — Be Chiller Too, Nov 15 '21 at 10:54
Do you want me to write an answer so you can close your question? — Be Chiller Too, Nov 15 '21 at 13:33

score 0 · Accepted Answer · answered Nov 15 '21 at 14:35

Don't create your virtual environment (venv) in /var.

My advice:

Create your virtual environment alongside your source code, if you're using pip
If you're using pipenv, let pipenv choose where to create the venv

Each one of your colleagues should have their own venv. You can syncronize your environments by using a requirements.txt (or a Pipfile) to specify which packages and versions are needed.

ERROR: Could not install packages due to an EnvironmentError: [Errno 13] Permission denied: '/var/project_env/bin/pip'

1 Answers1