====Set Up Your Local Python Environment====

Use the below to install python libraries that "normally" would be installed in a system directory such as ''/usr/local/lib/pythonX.Y''.  Use the ''<nowiki>--</nowiki>user'' flag with the ''pip'' tool to install to a directory you have control over as a user. Here are more details:

  * ''<nowiki>--</nowiki>user'' installs in the directory specified in ''site.USER_SITE''
    * example: ''~/.local/lib/pythonX.Y/site-packages''
  * add this folder to your PATH (in ''~/.bash_profile'' file):
    * ''export PATH=$PATH:~/.local/lib/pythonX.Y/site-packages''

Here is an example:

//pip install <nowiki>--</nowiki>user mypackage//


**An alternative to this is to use python virtual environments**


Sources:
  * https://stackoverflow.com/questions/42988977/what-is-the-purpose-of-pip-install-user
  * https://packaging.python.org/tutorials/installing-packages/#optionally-create-a-virtual-environment