Why should I install Python packages into `~/.local`?

Question

Background

1. I don\'t develop using OS X\'s system provided Python versions (on OS X 10.6 that\'s Python 2.5.4 and 2.6.1).
2. I don\'t install anything

Answer 1

As of 2020, I do not think it is a good idea to install Python packages into .local, but to use virtualenv to create a separate environment for each package.

My reason

While installations into .local do not interfere with the system wide Python, you still can have conflicts between several packages installed into .local.

P.S.: If you do you like virtualenv you could also use pipx.