title: How to install SciPy stack with pip and homebrew?
body: <p>I'm trying to install the basic scipy stack (numpy, scipy, matplotlib, pandas, sympy, ipython, nose) into a virtualenv; currently, I'm using OSX Mountain Lion. From the installation pages for these packages, as well as various threads here and around the web, it seems that pandas, sympy, and nose can be installed easily with just pip (although some list numpy/scipy/etc. as dependencies). </p>
  
  <p>However, there seems to be conflicting and kind of convoluted instructions for properly installing numpy, scipy, matplotlib, and, to a certain extent, ipython*. Installing solely with pip doesn't seem to be the proper way to install these packages; it seems that some dependencies need to be installed with homebrew, but various places list different packages to brew install before pip installing numpy/scipy/etc. Is there a comprehensive and current list of package dependencies that need to be installed with homebrew before pip installing numpy, scipy, and matplotlib? </p>
  
  <p>Just as a note, I've looked at tapping homebrew/python for installing numpy, scipy, and matplotlib properly with homebrew, but I want to install into a virtualenv and I don't think I can use homebrew to do that.</p>
  
  <p>Any help would be greatly appreciated; thanks in advance!</p>
  
  <p>*Also, for ipython, the installation page says that pip install ipython[all] should be sufficient, but some other sources (<a href="http://www.coderstart.com/setup/python-setup.html">http://www.coderstart.com/setup/python-setup.html</a>; <a href="http://www.lowindata.com/2013/installing-scientific-python-on-mac-os-x/">http://www.lowindata.com/2013/installing-scientific-python-on-mac-os-x/</a>) seem to suggest that the qt, pyqt, and zmq packages need to be brew installed first before pip installing ipython; are the homebrew installation necessary or is it fine to just pip install according to the ipython installation page?</p>