Pip: Python's Default Package Manager
Pip is Python's default package manager.
The "safe" way to call pip
TLDR: Prefix
pipcommands withpython3 -m
Though pip can be called directly, the version of pip called is dependent on the shell's PATH variable. If multiple versions of Python and pip are installed, the pip command may not run the expected version of pip.
The simplest way to avoid this confusion is to call pip via python3 by prefixing pip commands with python3 -m. For example, instead of running pip install <package-name>, call python3 -m pip install <package-name>. This ensures the version of pip called is the version associated with the version of python or python3 executed. This works because the python3 -m command uses the sys.path variable to find pip instead of the terminal's PATH variable.
Useful pip commands
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
pip install <package-name> | Installs the specified package |
pip install --upgrade <package-name> | Upgrades the specified package to the latest version |
pip show <package-name> | Shows a summary of the specified package installation: Name, version, path, etc. |
pip resources
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