Installing pip for Python 2: A Step-by-Step Guide

With the rise of Python 3, many Python developers have migrated to the newer version. However, there are still cases where Python 2 is required, especially for older projects or specific libraries. For those scenarios, it’s important to know how to install pip, the package manager for Python, on Python 2.

Why pip for Python 2?

pip, short for “pip installs packages,” is a tool that allows you to install and manage additional libraries and frameworks for Python. Although pip is officially bundled with Python 3, it’s not automatically included with Python 2, making it necessary to install it separately.

Installing pip for Python 2

1. Downloading the get-pip.py Script

   The first step is to download the get-pip.py script, which is used to install pip. You can find the latest version of this script on the pip installation page: https://pip.pypa.io/en/stable/installing/

   Download the script and save it to a convenient location on your computer.

2. Running the Script

   Open a command prompt or terminal and navigate to the directory where you saved the get-pip.py script. Then, run the following command to install pip for Python 2:

   bashpython get-pip.py
   
   If you have both Python 2 and Python 3 installed, and python is aliased to Python 3, you may need to use python2 instead:
   bashpython2 get-pip.py
   
   

3. Verifying the Installation

   Once the script has finished running, you can verify that pip is installed correctly by running:

   bashpip --version
   
   Again, if pip is aliased to the Python 3 version, you may need to use pip2:
   bashpip2 --version
   
   If pip is installed correctly, it will display the version number.
   

Using pip with Python 2

Now that you have pip installed for Python 2, you can use it to install additional libraries and frameworks. Simply run the pip install command followed by the name of the package you want to install. For example:

bashpip install numpy

Or, if you’re using pip2:
bashpip2 install numpy

Note on Python 2’s End of Life
It’s important to note that Python 2 reached its end of life in January 2020, and official support for the language has been discontinued. This means that new features and security updates will no longer be released for Python 2. While you can still install and use pip for Python 2, it’s recommended to migrate to Python 3 whenever possible.
Conclusion
Installing pip for Python 2 is a straightforward process that involves downloading the get-pip.py script and running it with the Python 2 interpreter. Once pip is installed, you can use it to install and manage additional libraries and frameworks for your Python 2 projects. However, keep in mind that Python 2 is no longer officially supported, so it’s recommended to migrate to Python 3 whenever possible.