How do I install pip for Python 2.6 on OS X?

Question

I have an OS X system where I need to install a module for python 2.6. Both pip and easy_install-2.6 are failing:

# /usr/bin/easy_install-2.6 pip
Searching for pip
Reading http://pypi.python.org/simple/pip/
Download error: unknown url type: https -- Some packages may not be found!
Couldn't find index page for 'pip' (maybe misspelled?)
Scanning index of all packages (this may take a while)
Reading http://pypi.python.org/simple/
Download error: unknown url type: https -- Some packages may not be found!
No local packages or download links found for pip
error: Could not find suitable distribution for Requirement.parse('pip')

Downloading get_pip.py and running it with the stock OS X-supplied python 2.6:

# python2.6 ./get_pip.py 
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "./get_pip.py", line 17868, in <module>
    main()
  File "./get_pip.py", line 162, in main
    bootstrap(tmpdir=tmpdir)
  File "./get_pip.py", line 82, in bootstrap
    import pip
  File "/tmp/tmpVJBvaW/pip.zip/pip/__init__.py", line 15, in <module>
  File "/tmp/tmpVJBvaW/pip.zip/pip/vcs/subversion.py", line 9, in <module>
  File "/tmp/tmpVJBvaW/pip.zip/pip/index.py", line 30, in <module>
  File "/tmp/tmpVJBvaW/pip.zip/pip/wheel.py", line 34, in <module>
  File "/tmp/tmpVJBvaW/pip.zip/pip/_vendor/__init__.py", line 92, in load_module
ImportError: No module named 'pip._vendor.distlib.scripts'


$ python2.6 --version
Python 2.6.9

With python2.7, either method works fine.

Answer 1

Download the source file here. Then do

>> cd ~/Downloads
>> tar -xzvf pip-7.0.1.tar.gz 

(replacing ~/Downloads if necessary). Then

>> cd pip-7.0.1
>> sudo python2.6 setup.py install
>> cd

(the last cd is used to leave the build directory). Now you should be able to run

>> python2.6 -c 'import pip;print pip.__version__'
7.0.1

By default, pip (when installed from source) should be installed into /usr/local/bin. To check:

>> /usr/local/bin/pip --version
pip 7.0.1 from /Library/Python/2.6/site-packages/pip-7.0.1-py2.6.egg (python 2.6)

Now you can install your favorite packages using

>> /usr/local/bin/pip install package
>> python2.6 -c 'import package'

If you have conflicting versions of pip in /usr/local/bin you can try this ridiculous one liner:

>> python -c 'import os;dir="/usr/local/bin";[ os.system("echo %s/%s: && %s/%s --version"%(dir,s,dir,s)) for s in os.listdir("/usr/local/bin") if s.startswith("pip")  ]'
/usr/local/bin/pip:
pip 7.0.1 from /Library/Python/2.6/site-packages/pip-7.0.1-py2.6.egg (python 2.6)
/usr/local/bin/pip2:
pip 7.0.1 from /Library/Python/2.6/site-packages/pip-7.0.1-py2.6.egg (python 2.6)
/usr/local/bin/pip2.6:
pip 7.0.1 from /Library/Python/2.6/site-packages/pip-7.0.1-py2.6.egg (python 2.6)

to find the one linked to py2.6. (in my case they are all the same)

Answer 2

By default Homebrew provides pip command via: brew install python.

So try installing Python using Homebrew. Try to not use sudo when working with brew.

To verify which files are installed with your Python package, try:

$ brew list python
/usr/local/Cellar/python/2.7.9/bin/pip
/usr/local/Cellar/python/2.7.9/bin/pip2
/usr/local/Cellar/python/2.7.9/bin/pip2.7
...

which should consist pip.

After installation you should symlink your formula's installed files by:

brew link python

which should create the right symbolic links (such as /usr/local/bin/pip pointing to your Cellar/python/2.?.?/bin/pip)

If you've permission issue, you may fix it by:

sudo chgrp -R admin /usr/local /Library/Caches/Homebrew
sudo chmod -R g+w /usr/local /Library/Caches/Homebrew

and make sure your user is in admin group (id -Gn $USER).

Then re-link it again:

brew unlink python && brew link python

To test dry-run, unlink and run: brew link -n python to see links of files which brew would link.

After linking is successful, make sure that your PATH system variable have /usr/local, if not, add:

export PATH=/usr/local/sbin:/usr/local/bin:$PATH

to your ~/.bashrc file.

If successful, your pip should work now.

---

If you don't want to use Homebrew or you have two Pythons installed on your Mac, you can alternatively install it via:

sudo easy_install pip

---

Your error:

Download error: unknown url type: https

means that your Python can't handle HTTPS protocol without having SSL support, so try installing: openssl package (on Linux either libssl-dev or openssl-devel).