Linux: Install pip Client To Install Python Packages

I would like to install python packages using the pip command which is an easy_install command replacement. How do I install pip comamnd under RHEL / CentOS / Debian / Ubuntu Linux server systems?

Tutorial details
Difficulty	Intermediate (rss)
Root privileges	Yes / No
Requirements	Python, gcc, python developer tools

The pip command is a tool for installing and managing Python packages, such as those found in the Python Package Index. It's a replacement for easy_install. pip is very useful for web development as well as for sys-admins who manages cloud computing based resources created Openstack, Rackspace, AWS, Google and other cloud computing service providers. The pip command can be installed in two different methods:

Method #1: pip for all users with root privileges required. It is recommended that you use package manager to install the pip.
Method #2: pip for a single user with no root privileges required. It is recommended that you use virtualenv script, which create isolated Python environments in your $HOME directory.

Warning examples may crash your computer

WARNING! Only use any one of the following method to install pip. Do not install pip using both methods.

Method #1: Install pip for all users

The pip command is not installed by default. You need to install it as per your distro.

RHEL / CentOS / Fedora Linux installation

First, turn on EPEL repo for RHEL / CentOS Linux. Next, type the following yum command under RHEL / CentOS / Fedora Linux to install python-pip package:
# yum -y install python-pip
Sample outputs:

Loaded plugins: product-id, refresh-packagekit, rhnplugin, security,
              : subscription-manager
Updating certificate-based repositories.
Unable to read consumer identity
Setting up Install Process
Resolving Dependencies
--> Running transaction check
---> Package python-pip.noarch 0:0.8-1.el6 will be installed
--> Processing Dependency: python-setuptools for package: python-pip-0.8-1.el6.noarch
--> Running transaction check
---> Package python-setuptools.noarch 0:0.6.10-3.el6 will be installed
--> Finished Dependency Resolution
 
Dependencies Resolved
 
================================================================================
 Package             Arch     Version         Repository                   Size
================================================================================
Installing:
 python-pip          noarch   0.8-1.el6       epel                        178 k
Installing for dependencies:
 python-setuptools   noarch   0.6.10-3.el6    rhel-x86_64-workstation-6   336 k
 
Transaction Summary
================================================================================
Install       2 Package(s)
 
Total download size: 513 k
Installed size: 764 k
Is this ok [y/N]: y
Downloading Packages:
(1/2): python-pip-0.8-1.el6.noarch.rpm                   | 178 kB     00:01
(2/2): python-setuptools-0.6.10-3.el6.noarch.rpm         | 336 kB     00:00
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total                                            63 kB/s | 513 kB     00:08
warning: rpmts_HdrFromFdno: Header V3 RSA/SHA256 Signature, key ID 0608b895: NOKEY
Retrieving key from file:///etc/pki/rpm-gpg/RPM-GPG-KEY-EPEL-6
Importing GPG key 0x0608B895:
 Userid : EPEL (6) <epel@fedoraproject.org>
 Package: epel-release-6-7.noarch (installed)
 From   : /etc/pki/rpm-gpg/RPM-GPG-KEY-EPEL-6
Is this ok [y/N]: y
Running rpm_check_debug
Running Transaction Test
Transaction Test Succeeded
Running Transaction
Warning: RPMDB altered outside of yum.
  Installing : python-setuptools-0.6.10-3.el6.noarch                        1/2
  Installing : python-pip-0.8-1.el6.noarch                                  2/2
Installed products updated.
  Verifying  : python-setuptools-0.6.10-3.el6.noarch                        1/2
  Verifying  : python-pip-0.8-1.el6.noarch                                  2/2
 
Installed:
  python-pip.noarch 0:0.8-1.el6
 
Dependency Installed:
  python-setuptools.noarch 0:0.6.10-3.el6
 
Complete!

Please note that name of the command is pyton-pip under RHEL and friends. I recommend that you add the following alias to your ~/.bashrc file, enter:

 
$ echo 'alias pip="/usr/bin/pip-python"' >> $HOME/.bashrc
$ . $HOME/.bashrc

Debian / Ubuntu Linux installation

Type the following apt-get command to install
# apt-get install python-pip
OR
$ sudo apt-get install python-pip
Sample outputs:

Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
The following NEW packages will be installed:
  python-pip
0 upgraded, 1 newly installed, 0 to remove and 14 not upgraded.
Need to get 67.8 kB of archives.
After this operation, 332 kB of additional disk space will be used.
Get:1 http://debian.osuosl.org/debian/ squeeze/main python-pip all 0.7.2-1 [67.8 kB]
Fetched 67.8 kB in 1s (40.4 kB/s)
Selecting previously deselected package python-pip.
(Reading database ... 274928 files and directories currently installed.)
Unpacking python-pip (from .../python-pip_0.7.2-1_all.deb) ...
Processing triggers for man-db ...
Setting up python-pip (0.7.2-1) ...
Processing triggers for python-support ...

Method #2: Install pip for a single user

This method does not require root access or modify your system Python installation. Type the following command:

curl -O https://raw.github.com/pypa/virtualenv/master/virtualenv.py

Sample outputs:

  % Total    % Received % Xferd  Average Speed   Time    Time     Time  Current
                                 Dload  Upload   Total   Spent    Left  Speed
100  107k  100  107k    0     0  35120      0  0:00:03  0:00:03 --:--:-- 49618

Create your own virtual environment called py_virtual:

python virtualenv.py py_virtual

Sample outputs:

New python executable in py_virtual/bin/python
Installing setuptools............................done.
Installing pip.....................done.

Activate your new virtual environment, run:

. py_virtual/bin/activate

Sample outputs (note prompt changed):

(py_virtual)vivek@wks01:~$

How do I use pip command?

To install new python package type:

pip install packageName

To uninstall python package installed by pip type:

pip uninstall packageName

To search python package type:

pip search packageName

To see a list of all commands type:

pip help

Sample outputs

Usage: pip COMMAND [OPTIONS]
 --version                    show program's version number and exit
 -h, --help                   Show help
 -v, --verbose                Give more output
 -q, --quiet                  Give less output
 --log              Log file where a complete (maximum verbosity) record will be kept
 --proxy               Specify a proxy in the form user:passwd@proxy.server:port. Note that the user:password@ is optional and required only if you
                              are behind an authenticated proxy. If you provide user@proxy.server:port then you will be prompted for a password.
 --timeout           Set the socket timeout (default 15 seconds)
 --exists-action 
                              Default action when a path already exists. Use this option more than one time to specify another action if a certain option is
                              not available. Choices: (s)witch, (i)gnore, (w)ipe, (b)ackup
Commands available:
  bundle: Create pybundles (archives containing multiple packages)
  freeze: Output all currently installed packages (exact versions) to stdout
  help: Show available commands
  install: Install packages
  search: Search PyPI
  uninstall: Uninstall packages
  unzip: Unzip individual packages
  zip: Zip individual packages

Examples

Search all openstack cloud releated tools:

pip search openstack

Sample outputs:

ftp-cloudfs - FTP interface to Rackspace Cloud Files and OpenStack Swift
vaporize - A clean and consistent library for the Rackspace Cloud / OpenStack
openstack.nose_plugin - openstack run_tests.py style output for nosetests
nova-adminclient - client for administering OpenStack Nova
python-glanceclient - Client library for OpenStack Image API
python-novaclient - Client library for OpenStack Nova API.
python-quantumclient - CLI and python client library for OpenStack Quantum
python-melangeclient - Client library for OpenStack Melange API.
txAWS - Async library for EC2, OpenStack, and Eucalyptus
python-swiftclient - Client Library for OpenStack Object Storage API
python-keystoneclient - Client library for OpenStack Keystone API
django_openstack_auth - A Django authentication backend for use with the OpenStack Keystone Identity backend.
python-cinderclient - Client library for OpenStack Cinder API.
rackspace-auth-openstack - Rackspace Auth Plugin for OpenStack Clients.
openstackocci - OCCI interface for Openstack.
django-openstack - A Django interface for OpenStack.
futuregrid_passwdstack - Password Stack is a simple tool that allows normal users to reset their own password in the OpenStack Dashboard
cloudenvy - Fast provisioning on openstack clouds.
reddwarf - PaaS services for Openstack
python-openstackclient - OpenStack command-line client
reviewday - Report generator for OpenStack code reviews.
horizon - The OpenStack Dashboard.
hpcloud-auth-openstack - HP Cloud Auth Plugin for OpenStack Clients.

To install the OpenStack dashboard package called horizon, enter: