How To Install Python3 Packages Using Pip On Ubuntu?

Published July 30, 2024

Problem: Installing Python3 Packages on Ubuntu

Installing Python3 packages on Ubuntu can be difficult without the right tools. Pip, the package installer for Python, makes this process easier but needs proper setup and usage.

Installing Python3 Packages with Pip

Method 1: Using pip3

pip3 is a version of pip for Python 3. It lets you install packages for Python 3 without affecting your Python 2 installation.

To install pip3 on Ubuntu:

Open a terminal window.
Update your package list: sudo apt update
Install pip3: sudo apt install python3-pip

After installation, use pip3 to install Python 3 packages:

pip3 install package-name

Replace "package-name" with the name of the package you want to install.

Tip: Upgrading pip3

To keep pip3 up-to-date, run this command periodically:

pip3 install --upgrade pip

Method 2: Specifying Python3 with pip

If you don't want to install pip3, you can use the standard pip with Python 3 by specifying the Python version.

To use this method:

Open a terminal window.
Use this command syntax:

python3 -m pip install package-name

This command tells Python 3 to run the pip module and install the specified package.

Both methods work for installing Python 3 packages. Choose the one that fits your workflow and system setup.

Verifying Package Installation

After installing Python3 packages using pip, you need to check if the installation was successful and if the packages work with your Python3 version. Here's how to do it:

To check installed packages:

Open a terminal window.
Run this command:
```
pip3 list
```
This shows all packages installed for Python3.

To confirm Python version compatibility:

Open a Python3 interactive shell:
```
python3
```
Import the package you installed:
```
import package_name
```
Check the package version:
```
print(package_name.__version__)
```

If the import works and the version appears, it means the package is installed and works with your Python3 version.

You can also check which Python version the package is using:

import sys
print(sys.version)

This shows the Python version in use, helping you confirm that the package runs under Python3 as intended.

Tip: Use pip show for detailed package information

To get more detailed information about a specific package, you can use the pip show command. Open a terminal and run:

pip3 show package_name

This command displays information such as the package version, location, dependencies, and required Python version. It's useful for troubleshooting and verifying package details.

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