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Problems with installing matplotlib in python 3.6

I'm trying to teach myself python, and I feel out of my depth. To start, I am working on a mac which already comes with python 2.7 installed.
I installed python 3.6 recently and have been using it to teach myself the basics. I'd like to eventually learn how to produce mathematical plots in python, and I know I will need the matplotlib package to do that.
Following some advice online, I was told that python3 already comes with pip installed, which is what I thought I should use to install matplotlib. The advice said I should type the following into the mac terminal:
python3.6 -m pip install matplotlib
I typed this, and it seemed like the package was installing, but I ended up getting some sort of error code that said:
Command "python setup.py egg_info" failed with error code 1 in [folder].
I tried opening IDLE and typing "import matplotlib", but I got the error: "no module named matplotlib". I also tried typing "import matplotlib.pyplot as plt", but I got the same error.
Based on further research and this youtube video, I've decided to just install miniconda in order to have access to the matplotlib package.
The problem is, I'm not sure if I should somehow be uninstalling whatever was installed when I ran the code above to install matplotlib. I've actually run that line of code 3 or 4 times. Should I remove anything before installing miniconda? Also, I am running python 3.6, while miniconda is listed on the website as being for python 3.5. Does this mean it won't work for my version of python?

Running pip like that would install packages system-wide. I'm guessing it's failing because you're not running as root (i.e. the administrator user). But wait! Don't try again as root! Instead of installing packages, do it in a virtual environment. First create it:
virtualenv myenv
This creates a directory called myenv with a bunch of stuff in it (so make note of where you run this command). Whenever you want to use the virtual environment (like straight away!) you first need to activate it:
. myenv/bin/activate
Don't miss out that dot (followed by a space) at the beginning! As the other answer says, the first thing you should do in it is upgrade pip:
pip install --upgrade pip
Now you're ready install whatever else you like:
pip install matplotlib
One last note: The virtual environment is tied to a particular Python version. By default it uses the system's Python 2.7 installation, so to use a different one you need to specify it when you create the virtual environment, like this (if that Python version is installed system-wide):
virtualenv -p python3.5 myenv
Or like this (if that Python version is not installed system-wide):
virtualenv -p /path/to/my/installation/of/python3.5 myenv
While the virtual environment is activated, you don't need to specify the particular path/version of Python. Just run it like this:
python

I also encountered many problems during my installation.
It seems that version 2 of matplotlib is not compatible with Python version 3.
Finally, I succeeded by specifying version 3 of matplotlib as follows with the following command:
sudo apt-get install python3-matplotlib
Reference from the Matplotlib website:
https://matplotlib.org/users/installing.html#building-on-linux

Try upgrade setup tools
--upgrade setuptools
or
easy_install -U setuptools
or upgrade pip
pip install --upgrade pip

I ended up downloading anaconda and using the python interpreter that comes with it, as anaconda comes with matplotlib and many other python packages of interest.

the pip command typically is for the Python 2. use pip3 instead to install the libraries in the python 3.X path
This should work
pip3 install matplotlib

The solution that work for me in python 3.6 is the following
py -m pip install matplotlib

Matplotlib files are downloaded in ~/.local/lib/python3.6/site-packages/ and not in /usr/lib/python3.6/ .
Try the command:
sudo cp -r ~/.local/lib/python3.6/site-packages/* /usr/lib/python3.6/

How do we separately use, maintain & install libraries for python 2.7 and python 3.5 on the same Ubuntu OS?

I need to work with Both Python 2.7.12 and python 3.5.2 simultaneously on my Ubuntu 16.04.1 LTS. Python 3 came pre-installed so I've no idea where it sits, in terms of path to the directory, while python 2 sits in /usr/local/lib/python2.7/.
I found lots of questions on SO and on askubuntu about how to install but nothing about how to use them separately, installing different libraries, and what should I avoid or be careful of, if I maintain this dual python thing for the long term? For example, I usually run pip install to install a library and I can check that its installed in my python2 directory but how do I install the same package for my python3 without conflicts? Something like: python3 pip install <package> ?? Where is the default python3 installed? And how do I call python3 for paths where python is not part of the command for example: pip freeze, sudo-apt get, etc.?
PS: I've not officially worked with Virtualenv but I've been informed that is usually good for isolating projects within a python language version, rather than isolating two different language versions from each other.
Please let me know.
Thanks

This is absolutely no problem, as Python does that for you. You don't need a virtualenv at all.
If you use Ubuntu packages, make sure you use the python3- versions for Python 3, and the normal python- versions for Python 2.
For example, python3-numpy and python-numpy.
If you use pip to install extra packages, you an either use the pip script with the version number appended: pip2.7 or pip3.5, or, my preferred method, call pip as a module for the respective Python executable:
python2.7 -m pip install <whatever>
and
python3.5 -m pip install <whatever>
Other than that, there should not be any issue: Python stores the packages in completely separate directories, and each Python executable only uses its respective directive.
Do not fiddle around with PYTHONPATH, unless you really know what you're doing. This has the danger of setting your PYTHONPATH to a directory with Python 2.7 modules and then using Python 3.5 to run things.
If you start from scratch, you may need to install pip first.
For the system Python(s), use the relevant package:
sudo apt install python-pip
sudo apt install python3-pip
For your locally installed Python(s), use the built-in bootstrapper module:
pythonx.y -m ensurepip
Note on the OS-installed Python executables:
Python 3.5 lives at /usr/bin/python3.5, Python 2.7 (the OS one) at /usr/bin/python2.7.
You could even use the OS 2.7 one next to your locally installed /usr/local/bin/python2.7 (and confuse yourself when a package can't be found because you used the wrong one).
Or install Python 3.6 next to Python 3.5 (provided you've used make altinstall, so python3 doesn't get overwritten).
This is also why you don't really want to run pip (or even pip2.7) as is: pip2.7 may get you the system one, instead of the one in /usr/local/bin/pip2.7, depending on your PATH.
(The same goes for the python2.7 executable, so if you need to specify the full path /usr/local/bin/python2.7 to run that one (or have an alias), the same holds for pip2.7. If, on the other hand, /usr/local/bin is first on your PATH, you should in principle never run into the same pip and python executables.)

'bz2 is module not available' when installing Pandas with pip in python virtual environment

I am going through this post Numpy, Scipy, and Pandas - Oh My!, installing some python packages, but got stuck at the line for installing Pandas:
pip install -e git+https://github.com/pydata/pandas#egg=pandas
I changed 'wesm' to 'pydata' for the latest version, and the only other difference to the post is that I'm using pythonbrew.
I found this post, related to the error, but where is the Makefile for bz2 mentioned in the answer? Is there another way to resolve this problem?
Any help would be much appreciated. Thanks.

You need to build python with BZIP2 support.
Install the following package before building python:
Red Hat/Fedora/CentOS: yum install bzip2-devel
Debian/Ubuntu: sudo apt-get install libbz2-dev
Extract python tarball. Then
configure;
make;
make install
Install pip using the new python.
Alternative:
Install a binary python distribution using yum or apt, that was build with BZIP2 support.
See also: ImportError: No module named bz2 for Python 2.7.2

I spent a lot of time on the internet and got a partial answer everywhere. Here is what you need to do to make it work. Follow every step.
sudo apt-get install libbz2-dev Thanks to Freek Wiekmeijer for this.
Now you also need to build python with bz2. Previously installed python won't work. For that do following:
Download stable python version from https://www.python.org/downloads/source/ then extract that Gzipped source tarball file. You can use wget https://python-tar-file-link.tgz to download and tar -xvzf python-tar-file.tgz to extract it in current directory
Go inside extracted folder then run following commands one at a time
./configure
make
make install
This will build a python file with bz2 that you previously installed
Since this python doesn't have pip installed, idea was to create a virtual environment with above-built python then install pandas using previously installed pip
You will see python file in the same directory. Just create a virtual environment.
./python -m env myenv (create myenv in the same directory or outside it's your choice)
source myenv/bin/activate (activate virtual environment)
pip install pandas (install pandas in the current environment)
That's it. Now with this environment, you should be able to use pandas without error.

pyenv
I noticed that installing Python using source takes a long time (I am doing it on i7 :/ ); especially the make and make test...
A simpler and shorter solution was to install another version of Python (I did Python 3.7.8) using pyenv, install it using these steps.
It not only saved the problem of using multiple Python instances on the same system but also maintain my virtual environments without virtualenvwrapper (which turned buggy on my newly setup ubuntu-20.04).

How to install pip in a new python installation

I recently installed python 2.7.2 on my Mac running OSX 10.6.8. Previously, I had version 2.6. I set my path in .bash_profile as follows:
export PATH=/usr/local/bin:$PATH
export PATH=/usr/local/share/python:$PATH
so that when I run python it will refer to my new installation. It does.
I would also like to use pip with my new installation, but the problem is that I already have the current version of pip installed at
/usr/local/bin/pip.
I tried to re-install pip with:
easy_install pip
But, of course this does not put pip in the desired new directory
/usr/local/share/python/pip
but simply refers to the existing version in /usr/local/bin/pip.
Can someone tell me how to fix this?
I would like to then use pip to install NumPy and SciPy in the correct directory (I was having trouble getting the SciPy installation to work with my old version of python, hence the new install).
If you'd like, you can visit the website where I found instructions for installing python 2.7, creating/updating my .bash_profile, installing pip, and NumPy and SciPy. Might provide some insight, or I'm happy to give more details if needed. Thanks!
http://www.thisisthegreenroom.com/2011/installing-python-numpy-scipy-matplotlib-and-ipython-on-lion/#python

Install distribute as per the instructions at http://pypi.python.org/pypi/distribute .
Make sure you specify the full path to the python executable (/usr/local/share/python/python or smth in your case).
$ curl -O https://svn.apache.org/repos/asf/oodt/tools/oodtsite.publisher/trunk/distribute_setup.py
$ /usr/local/share/python/python distribute_setup.py
Then you should have /usr/local/share/python/easy_install.
After that, run:
$ /usr/local/share/python/easy_install pip
Then you should have /usr/local/share/python/pip.
Depending on the ordering of things in your PATH, either your old, or the newly installed pip is executed when you execute the pip command, so you either might have to adapt your PATH, or specify the full path to /usr/local/share/python/pip when installing eggs.
(shameless plug:
In any case, you might consider using virtualenv for installing packages into a "project" specific isolated environment, as opposed to installing them globally.)

I needed to uninstall brew's python.
Then, I was left with python v2.7.6
Next to install, pip I ran
sudo easy_install pip
installed fine and working

I had a similar issue, try this:
$ python -m pip install --upgrade --force-reinstall pip
This will force reinstall pip with whatever version of python you use including installing the binary.

A few days ago I had a friend who was starting Python Programming and needed help with the same issue: installing pip. There are debates over which one to choose between easy_install and pip and it seems everybody is heading the pip direction. Either way, installing either of them can be frustrating.
You can use this simple tutorial : installing pip package manager the easy way
Here are what you should keep in mind as you follow the above guide:
If you already have an older version installed, uninstall it or totally remove the python installation
Once that is cleared, download an install Python.
After that, download ez_setup.py file and save it to your desktop - easily accessible from the command line
Now run it from the command line and it will install easy_install for you after which,
You can use it to install pip.
Once again, you can do this or use the above link to find a simple step-by-step guide on how to get it installed on your computer.
Good luck.

Just so that people knew, ATM we can install PIP by downloading get-pip.py from the page with docs and run it like this:
c:\python27\python.exe get-pip.py
BTW, Python 3.4 comes with PIP pre-installed.

One of the command line options lets you choose where to install to.
--install-dir (-d) install package to DIR
So something like - # easy_install pip -d /usr/local/share/python
(Please correct me if I'm wrong.)

Just wanted to say that I found a way to get around my problem. I don't know that I can explain it perfectly, since I am not very good at understanding what I am doing with this stuff just yet! But, the problem seems to have been with my PATH. I removed the PATH that I posted in my original question, and then used easy_install pip. It went straight to python 2.7.2 (my new version) with no problem. I then successfully used pip to install NumPy and SciPy in the correct location, and they both work. Thanks to ErikAllik and FakeRainBrigand for taking the time to look into it!

Creating package installer in OS X - install Python, NumPy and other dependencies

I want to create a native Mac OS X package installer, the creation of the package is not really the problem, the real deal is the dependencies that have to get installed; I need to install Python, NumPy and Matplotlib (only if the required versions are not already installed).
I have heard really bad things about the Package Maker app, I've been reading a little and have already even found a nice tutorial although it is quite outdated. As a reference, here's Apple's reference guide.
I imagine I would have to use the uncompiled source provided from each of these three projects.
It would really help me to see the PackageMaker file that is used to create the official Python installer, if such file is available somewhere, please point me to it.
Anyway:
What would be the best way to do this? Is using a PackageMaker silly for this purpose? Any other literature that would help me?
Extra:
What would be the easiest way to test my installers?

I'm assuming that you want to install the packages that you mentioned because you are developing a Python application. Have you looked at PyInstaller? It "converts (packages) Python programs into stand-alone executables, under Windows, Linux, Mac OS X, Solaris and AIX", so you don't have to worry about what's installed on the target system.
And if you use PyInstaller, the "extra" would be easy. Simply copy the resulting executable to any other machine and test it out by executing it.

Something like /tmp/install.sh:
cd ~
curl -C - -O http://pypi.python.org/packages/source/v/virtualenv/virtualenv-1.7.tar.gz
tar -xzf virtualenv-1.7.tar.gz
cd ./virtualenv-1.7
python setup.py install
cd ~
rm virtualenv-1.7.tar.gz
rm -rd ./virtualenv-1.7
virtualenv myenvfolder
source myenvfolder/bin/activate
easy_install pip
pip install NumPy
pip install Matplotlib
And then:
chmod +x /tmp/install.sh;
/tmp/install.sh

Maybe you can use macports binary-packages or binary-archives?
and maybe fabric or puppet.
Puppet on OSX.
Macports is as simple as apt-get to use and takes care of all dependencies. By default macports installs to /opt/local so installs don't interfere with apple installs. Default is to compile from source. Some packages are big and have a lot of dependencies so compiling takes a lot of time and all the recourse on the machine. If you make a binary-archive you only have to compile ones pr machine arcithecture/osx-version. Then you only need to install macports and sett up a share with binary-archives. With fabric or puppet you can automate builds and distribution.
Then if you in the near future find out that you need pytable or numexpr it is as simple as: sudo port install py26-tables
and if other people need it to you can make binary-archive of it and put it on the share.

To install Python's latest version you can go here, and you can install NumPy and matplotlib directly in your terminal with these commands:
pip3 install matplotlib
pip3 install numpy