Simple way to install a setuptools python module without root access?

Question

Say I a have python module with a proper setup.py which I would like to install to my own user.

However a simple installation will fail as such, since it attempts to install globally on my system

% python setup.py install
running install
running build
running build_py
creating build
creating build/lib.linux-x86_64-2.7
copying src/somemodule.py -> build/lib.linux-x86_64-2.7
running install_lib
copying build/lib.linux-x86_64-2.7/somemodule.py -> /usr/local/lib/python2.7/dist-packages
error: [Errno 13] Permission denied: '/usr/local/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/somemodule.py'

I have root access to the machine. This is not the point.

Is there a way to install with setuptools (say, as a user-specific site-packages). I am not looking for virtualenv nor python setup.py build, but something in line with what I would be able to with pip as in

% pip install --user somemodule.py

h7r · Accepted Answer · 2015-05-23 17:59:17Z

7

Use the --prefix option like:

python setup.py install --prefix ~/.local

EDIT: This is similar to using --user, which uses the user specific site-package (defined to be ~/.local on *nix as per PEP 370) automatically.

edited May 23, 2015 at 17:59

h7r

5,0732 gold badges30 silver badges31 bronze badges

answered May 23, 2015 at 17:27

tynn

40k8 gold badges119 silver badges152 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

3 Comments

h7r Over a year ago

Thank you. I missed this by not looking into install --help (did only on --help and --help-commands).

h7r Over a year ago

I have to add that finding this out I found that --user is a better suited option, since uses the default site-package for the user automatically.

tynn Over a year ago

I totally forgot about that one. I'll just add it to the answer. Thank you.

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

Simple way to install a setuptools python module without root access?

1 Answer 1

3 Comments

Your Answer

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

1 Answer 1

3 Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Related