Today, we’re diving into the world of Python pip, a vital tool that can supercharge your Python programming journey. Don’t be daunted – by the end of this tutorial, you’ll know your way around pip like a seasoned Pythonista!
Table of contents
What is Python pip?
Python pip is a package manager for the Python programming language. It can be seen as your loyal sidekick, helping you out with the installation, upgrading and removal of Python packages.
What is it for?
Python pip comes into play every time you want to:
– Install a package you need for your project
– Upgrade an existing package to its latest version
– Remove a package you no longer need
It truly is an indispensable tool that significantly improves the efficiency of your workflow.
Why should I learn it?
When building anything in Python, the chances are you’ll need to use packages that others have developed. pip allows you to harness these resources effectively. To put it quite simply:
If you want to master Python programming, you need to master the use of pip.
Next, let’s walk through some code examples together.
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Installing pip
Before plunging into the packages management, you first need to ensure that pip is installed on your system. Python distribution, starting with version 3.4 for Python 3 and version 2.7.9 for Python 2, comes with pip bundled.
You can check the presence and version of pip by opening your console and typing in:
pip --version
If you get an error or a version older than 19.0, pip needs to be installed or upgraded.
To install pip, download get-pip.py, then run:
python get-pip.py
Installing Packages
Installing packages with pip is a breeze. Let’s take the package ‘requests’ for instance. To install it, simply type in your console:
pip install requests
Upgrading Packages
As software evolves, packages get updated with new functionalities and bug fixes. It’s important to stay updated – pip can help you with that. To upgrade a package, for example ‘requests’, the command is:
pip install --upgrade requests
Uninstalling Packages
To keep your environment clean, it’s good practice to get rid of the packages you don’t use anymore. To uninstall a package with pip, let’s say ‘requests’, just type:
pip uninstall requests
By now, you should feel comfortable installing, upgrading, and uninstalling Python packages with pip. Now, let’s move on to some advanced usage of pip, which shall cover in the next section.
Listing Packages
Keeping track of installed packages is paramount in any development project. pip makes that easy too. To list all the installed packages, just use:
pip list
This will provide a list of all packages installed in your environment alongside their version numbers.
Checking a Specific Package
If you want to see information about a specific package, pip can cater to that as well. To check the ‘requests’ package, type in:
pip show requests
This shows information like version, location, requires, license, etc. about the package.
Installing a Specific Version of a Package
Sometimes, you may need to install a specific version of a package – pip can handle that. For instance, to install version 2.18.4 of ‘requests’, the command is:
pip install requests==2.18.4
Finding Outdated Packages
Some of your installed packages may have newer versions available. pip has got you covered here as well. To find what needs an update, type:
pip list --outdated
This will list all the packages that have later versions available.
Upgrading All Outdated Packages
Typing upgrade command for all packages separately can be monotonous. Luckily, pip can aid in upgrading all outdated packages in a single go with:
pip freeze --local | grep -v '^\-e' | cut -d = -f 1 | xargs -n1 pip install -U
At this point, you should feel like a pip power-user. You have now explored all the major functionalities of this helpful tool and are well equipped to manage your Python packages effectively.
Where to go next?
At this point, you might be wondering what’s next in your Python journey. Mastering pip was only a stepping stone towards becoming a proficient Python developer.
We, at Zenva, have one suggestion: take a leap forward and jump into our Python Mini-Degree.
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You have now mastered pip and are armed with an exciting next step. So, go ahead and dive into the wonderful world of Python programming with Zenva!
Conclusion
Isn’t it amazing how a tool as simple as pip can enhance your coding experience by leaps and bounds? Today, you’ve not only learned how to navigate the Python-package world with pip, but also discovered how it can make your development process more efficient and enjoyable.
As your Python journey continues, remember that this is just the tip of the iceberg. More exciting learning opportunities await you, and the Python Mini-Degree offered by Zenva is a perfect next step on your path to becoming a coding ace! So, why wait? Embark on this fascinating learning journey today. Happy coding!
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