Attribute Error Installing with pip

Question

This is a head stumper so I am posting this question AFTER having examined and read all of the prior posts on this issue.

Running OSX 10.9 Python 2.7 no virtualenv<

Answer 1

This error is caused by the presence of an outdated version of pkg_resources. In order to get rid of the error, do the following:

1. Start a python session, import pkg_resources, and view the file from which it is loaded:

   In [1]: import pkg_resources
   
   In [2]: pkg_resources.__file__
   Out[2]: '/usr/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/pkg_resources.pyc'
   

2. Remove this file (and the associated *.py file):

   $ sudo rm /usr/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/pkg_resources.py*
   

3. That's it! Re-run the installation; it should complete without any errors:

   $ sudo pip install awssh
   

Warning

If you're on a Debian based Linux system, this file might have been installed via the python-pkg-resources package. Therefore updating or reinstalling this package will reinstate the stale module! Also be aware that you're messing with a file which is supposed to be controlled by apt.