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I'm trying to install modules on an alternate version of Python (3.3.0) I have installed on my Mac (OS X 10.7.4). The new version of Python runs OK in the IDLE and also in Terminal:

However, trying to install something relatively trivial like NumPy only installs in the old pre-installed version of Python on my Mac (2.7.1).

Executing this:

$ python3.3 easy_install numpy

Gives me this error message:

/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/3.3/Resources/Python.app/Contents/MacOS/Python: can't open file 'easy_install': [Errno 2] No such file or directory

I then read that creating a virtual environment is the way to go, so I tried that:

$ mkvirtualenv python=python3.3 foo

It returned this error:

-bash: mkvirtualenv: command not found

So, I clearly don't have that installed correctly, either (virtualenv-1.8.4).

There is probably lots more homework that I need to do, but I don't really have any intention of using 2.7 ever again, just Python 3 so I don't need to go back and forth. At the same time I know that I need to keep the old version of Python on my Mac for whatever reason, so I don't intend to delete it. Any suggestions for what I'm missing would be very helpful.

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Note that the command is virtualenv, without the leading mk. –  Stefano Sanfilippo May 15 '13 at 20:41

2 Answers 2

Try with this:

easy_install numpy

easy_install is a shell script, not a python script.

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Note: you shouldn't use easy_install. –  kuyan Dec 30 '12 at 8:44
I agree with you. It is better to use pip. I just answer the question, who want to use easy_install. Thanks. –  jinghli Dec 30 '12 at 12:15
This returns: error: can't create or remove files in install directory –  joseph_pindi Dec 31 '12 at 15:07

You have the wrong command. Instead of:

$ python3.3 easy_install numpy

you want:

$ easy_install3 numpy

or even more specific:

$ easy_install-3.3 numpy

But you shouldn't be using easy_install in the first place:

$ pip3 install numpy

or more specific than pip3:

$ pip-3.3 install numpy

If you look deeper, you'll see that both pip3 and pip-3.3 are the same:

$ pip3 --version
pip 1.2.1 from /usr/local/lib/python3.3/site-packages/pip-1.2.1-py3.3.egg (python 3.3)
$ pip-3.3 --version

and both easy_install3 and easy_install-3.3 are the same:

$ easy_install3 --version
distribute 0.6.32
$ easy_install-3.3 --version
distribute 0.6.32

Want a handy tip? If you want a really quick way to see what versions of pip you have installed, type pip in in Terminal then press Tab. This shows all executables in your PATH that start with what you have entered in the prompt, which, incidentally, will show you the below:

$ pip<tabhere>
pip      pip-2.7  pip-3.3  pip3     


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$ easy_install3 numpy returns error: can't create or remove files in install directory. Same thing with easy_install-3.3... –  joseph_pindi Dec 31 '12 at 15:09
That probably means that you need root privileges: prefix the command with sudo. Also, pip: pip3 install numpy or sudo pip3 install numpy. –  kuyan Dec 31 '12 at 19:02
> sudo: easy_install-3.3: command not found –  joseph_pindi Jan 2 '13 at 1:08
Try running ls $(which easy_install)*, see what you get. I'm inclined to believe that this is some kind of PATH issue, as from your last comment, easy_install returned something. This command should show all of the easy_install binaries you have. –  kuyan Jan 2 '13 at 21:21

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