CODEWITHSUNDEEP
pythonpiphomebrewconda
Nina
Nina

Reputation: 79

I broke python and pip

I have not used python since installing on my Mac OS for a class in probably 2015 (read: beginner. I know nothing about configuring environment/dependency stuff). Recently, I decided to use python again for simple scripting. Scripts were executing but I was unable to import a numpy dependency. I received error messages about my numpy and did a bunch of pip uninstall/reinstall/upgrade/install-ignore numpy stuff. I kept getting the following message:

ImportError: Something is wrong with the numpy installation. While importing we detected an older version of numpy in ['/Users/userName/anaconda/lib/python2.7/site-packages/numpy']. One method of fixing this is to repeatedly uninstall numpy until none is found, then reinstall this version.

I decided to address my outdated python; I googled how to do this and ran brew install python as suggested here.

This did not solve the issue. I kept trying answers I found online that had worked for other people, including uninstalling and reinstalling and upgrading pip/pip3. This resulted in an effed up pip. Calling pip -V returns:

from pip._internal.cli.main import main ImportError: No module named pip._internal.cli.main

At this point I realized that my system was looking in this anaconda file for all things python (which I probably installed at some point as a student 5 years ago). Now my pip doesn't work, my python is supposedly v3 according to homebrew, but everything is looking for a highly outdated anaconda file.

I even attempted to update anaconda via their instructions. I get this error:

ImportError: No module named conda.cli

What have I done are there steps I can take to fix these issues?

Upvotes: 0

Views: 607

Answers (1)

Mark Setchell
Mark Setchell

Reputation: 207853

Zeroth rule... make a backup.

First rule... do not delete anything supplied by Apple. That includes anything under:

  • /bin
  • /usr/bin
  • /Applications
  • /Library

Second rule... do delete anything from homebrew because you can simply reinstall it later. Find homebrew Python packages with:

brew search python

and look for things with ticks (checkmarks) and delete with:

brew rm XYZ

Third rule... delete anything installed by Anaconda because you can simply reinstall later.

Fourth rule... be aware of what your shell is actually running when you type a command. So, if you want to know which actual Python interpreter you are running when you type python3 for example, run:

type python3

Fifth rule, look at your PATH with:

echo $PATH

If there are any directories for Anaconda, or /opt or any other junk, alter your PATH to remove them, log out and back in for changes to take effect.

Upvotes: 1

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