pip is the default package manager for Python, allowing you to install and manage additional libraries and dependencies not included in the standard Python library. By default, it installs packages from the Python Package Index (PyPI), giving you access to a vast repository of Python software.

While Ubuntu's default package manager, apt, can install Python packages, it may not always have the most recent versions or a comprehensive selection. Using pip ensures you have the latest packages and a broader range to choose from.

Installing Pip on Ubuntu

Step 1: Open your terminal. You can do this by pressing Ctrl + Alt + T or by searching for "Terminal" in the applications menu.

Step 2: Update your package list to ensure all repositories are up to date:

sudo apt update

Step 3: Install pip for Python 3 with the following command:

sudo apt install python3-pip

Note: If you need pip for Python 2, use the command:

sudo apt install python-pip

For Ubuntu versions older than 14.04, replace apt with apt-get in the commands above.

Step 4: Verify the installation by checking the pip version:

pip3 --version

This command should display the version of pip installed on your system.

Output showing pip version

Ubuntu's repositories might not always have the latest version of pip. To upgrade pip to the newest version, execute the following commands:

# For Python 3
sudo pip3 install --upgrade pip

# For Python 2
sudo pip install --upgrade pip

📝 Important Note on pip and pip3:
The command pip is associated with Python 2 packages, while pip3 is used for Python 3 packages. In the examples below, we'll use pip3. If you're working with Python 2, substitute pip3 with pip.

Managing Python Packages with Pip

Step 1: To list all Python packages installed on your system, run:

pip3 list

This will display all installed packages along with their versions.

List of installed Python packages

Step 2: To view detailed information about a specific package, use the command:

pip3 show package_name

Replace package_name with the name of the package you're interested in.

Detailed information about a package

Step 3: To search for packages in the Python Package Index using a keyword, run:

pip3 search <keyword>

Replace <keyword> with the term you're searching for. This will list all packages that match the keyword.

For example, searching for "blinker" would produce results like this:

Search results for 'blinker'

Installing and Upgrading Packages with Pip

Step 1: To install a new package, use the command:

pip3 install package_name

Replace package_name with the name of the package you want to install.

Installing a package with pip

Step 2: To upgrade an existing package to its latest version, run:

pip3 install --upgrade package_name

This command will also update any dependencies associated with the package. Make sure to replace package_name with the actual name of the package you wish to upgrade.

Upgrading a package with pip

Uninstalling Packages with Pip

Step 1: To remove a package from your system, execute the command:

pip3 uninstall package_name

Again, replace package_name with the name of the package you wish to uninstall.

Uninstalling a package with pip

Step 2: If you want to uninstall a package without the confirmation prompt, add the -y flag:

pip3 uninstall -y package_name

By mastering these pip commands, you can efficiently manage Python packages on your Ubuntu system, ensuring you have the tools you need for your projects.