How to resolve "normal site-packages is not writable" in Python

 

 

 

In Python, the error message "Defaulting to user installation because normal site-packages is not writeable" usually appears when you try to install packages without having the necessary permissions to write to the system-wide site-packages directory.

Occurrence

This commonly occurs in virtual environments or when you lack administrative access.

Error-resolving approaches

To resolve this error, you can use the following approaches:

1. Using a virtual environment

First, create a virtual environment using tools like venv or virtualenv using this command in your terminal:

 

 

python -m venv myenv

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now, activate the virtual environment using these commands:

 

 

source myenv/bin/activate  # for Linux/Mac

 

myenv\Scripts\activate.bat  # for Windows

 

 

 

 

 

 

Finally, install packages within the virtual environment using this command in your terminal:

 

 

pip install package-name

 

 

 

 

 

 

This way, you will have write access to the virtual environment's site-packages directory without requiring system-wide permissions.

1. Specifying a user installation

You can install the package in the user’s local site-packages directory using this command:

 

 

pip install package-name --user

 

 

 

 

 

 

Use the --user flag when installing packages to specify a user installation instead of a system-wide installation.

1. Using a package manager

If you're using Linux, you can use system-wide package management like apt or yum to install Python packages. Typically, administrative rights are needed for this.

 

 

sudo apt install python-package-name  # for apt package manager

sudo yum install python-package-name  # for yum package manager

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hence, these approaches provide you with the necessary write permissions to install packages in a controlled and isolated manner.

 

 

 

ref : https://www.educative.io/answers/how-to-resolve-normal-site-packages-is-not-writable-in-python