How to Install and Use Pip on Ubuntu 22.04
Pip is a package manager for Python used to install, upgrade, configure, and manage project dependencies. It allows you to search, download, and install packages from the Python Package Index (PyPI) and other package repositories.
This guide explains how to install pip for Python 3 and Python 2 on Ubuntu 22.04. Additionally, we will cover the basics of using pip to manage Python packages.
Before You Begin
Python exists in two versions: Python 2 and Python 3.
- Python 3 is included by default in Ubuntu 22.04.
- Python 2 is no longer actively maintained but can still be installed manually.
- It is recommended to use Python 3 for all new projects.
When installing Python modules globally, it is best to install them using Ubuntu’s apt package manager whenever possible, as these packages are tested for compatibility with Ubuntu.
Python packages follow this naming convention:
- Python 3 packages are prefixed with python3-
- Python 2 packages are prefixed with python2-
For project-specific installations, using a virtual environment is the preferred approach, as it prevents conflicts between dependencies.
Installing pip for Python 3
Installing pip for Python 3 on Ubuntu 22.04 is a simple process.
First, update the package index and install pip using the following command:
sudo apt update
sudo apt install python3-pip
This command also installs any dependencies required for building Python modules.
Once the installation is complete, verify that pip is installed by checking its version:
pip3 –version
The output should look something like this:
pip 22.0.2 from /usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/pip (python 3.10)
Installing pip for Python 2
Pip for Python 2 is not included in the Ubuntu 22.04 repositories. You need to install it manually using the get-pip.py script.
Step 1: Install Python 2
If Python 2 is not already installed, install it by running:
sudo apt update
sudo apt install python2
Step 2: Download the get-pip.py Script
Use the curl command to download the script from the official Python repository:
curl https://bootstrap.pypa.io/pip/2.7/get-pip.py –output get-pip.py
Step 3: Install pip for Python 2
Run the script using Python 2:
sudo python2 get-pip.py
This command installs pip globally. If you only need pip for your user account, run the command without sudo.
The script also installs setuptools and wheel, which allow you to install source distributions of Python packages.
Step 4: Verify the Installation
To confirm that pip is installed, check the version number:
pip2 –version
The output should look something like this:
pip 20.3.4 from /usr/local/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/pip (python 2.7)
How to Use Pip
Pip provides several useful commands for managing Python packages. Below are some of the most common ones.
To see a list of all pip commands and options, run:
pip3 –help
To get more information about a specific command, use the following syntax:
pip3 command –help
For example, to get more information about the install command, type:
pip3 install –help
Installing Packages with Pip
The most basic function of pip is to install a package.
To install the latest version of a package, use the following command:
pip3 install package_name
For example, to install the NumPy library:
pip3 install numpy
Installing Packages with Pip Using Requirements Files
A requirements.txt file is a text file containing a list of pip packages with their versions required to run a specific Python project.
To install a list of requirements specified in a file, use the following command:
pip3 install -r requirements.txt
This ensures that all dependencies are installed with the specified versions.
Listing Installed Packages
To list all the installed pip packages, use the list subcommand:
pip3 list
Upgrading a Package with Pip
To upgrade an already installed package to the latest version, use the following command:
pip3 install –upgrade package_name
For example, to upgrade NumPy:
pip3 install –upgrade numpy
Uninstalling Packages with Pip
To remove an installed package, run the following command:
pip3 uninstall package_name
For example, to uninstall NumPy:
pip3 uninstall numpy
Using Pip with a Virtual Environment
For better package management, it is recommended to use pip inside a Python virtual environment. Virtual environments allow you to install packages in an isolated location for each project, preventing dependency conflicts.
Installing the virtual environment package
Install the virtual environment package for Python 3:
sudo apt install python3-venv
Creating a Virtual Environment
To create a new virtual environment in a directory called myproject:
python3 -m venv myproject
Activating the Virtual Environment
To activate the virtual environment, run:
source myproject/bin/activate
Once activated, pip will install packages inside the virtual environment instead of system-wide.
Deactivating the Virtual Environment
To exit the virtual environment, simply run:
deactivate
Conclusion
We have shown you how to install pip on Ubuntu 22.04 and how to use it to manage Python packages.
By following this guide, you can:
- Install pip for Python 3 and Python 2
- Use pip to install, upgrade, and manage packages
- Install packages using a requirements.txt file
- Work with pip inside a virtual environment
If you have any questions or feedback, feel free to comment below.
