How do I install third-party packages in Python?

Umesh S
5 min readFeb 21, 2023

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Install via pip:

  1. Open your command prompt or terminal window.
  2. Type pip install package_name (replace package_name with the name of the package you want to install).
  3. Press Enter.
  4. pip will automatically download and install the package, along with any dependencies that it requires.

Install via Conda:

  1. Install conda by following the instructions in the official documentation: https://docs.conda.io/projects/conda/en/latest/user-guide/install/index.html.
  2. Open your command prompt or terminal window.
  3. Type conda create --name my_env (replace my_env with the name you want to give your new environment).
  4. Press Enter.
  5. Type conda activate my_env (replace my_env with the name of the environment you just created).
  6. Press Enter.
  7. Type conda install package_name (replace package_name with the name of the package you want to install).
  8. Press Enter.
  9. conda will automatically download and install the package, along with any dependencies that it requires.

Install via Easy_install:

  1. Install easy_install by following the instructions in the official documentation: https://setuptools.pypa.io/en/latest/easy_install.html.
  2. Open your command prompt or terminal window.
  3. Type easy_install package_name (replace package_name with the name of the package you want to install).
  4. Press Enter.
  5. easy_install will automatically download and install the package, along with any dependencies that it requires.

Step-by-Step Instructions for Installing Third-Party Python Packages via pip

Installing third-party packages in Python is a common task for most Python developers. There are several ways to install third-party packages in Python, but the most common way is to use a package manager like pip.

One of the most popular ways to install third-party packages in Python is using a package manager called pip. pip is a tool that is used to install and manage Python packages, and it comes pre-installed with most recent versions of Python. In order to use pip, you need to have a working internet connection and an active Python installation.

To install a package using pip, you need to open a command prompt or terminal window on your computer. You can do this by searching for "command prompt" or "terminal" in your operating system's search bar. Once you have the command prompt or terminal open, you can use pip to install the package of your choice.

If you are using Python 2.7.9 or later or Python 3.4 or later, pip should already be installed by default. To check if pip is installed, run the following command:

pip --version

For example, let’s say you want to install the requests package, which is a popular package that allows you to make HTTP requests from within Python. To install requests, you would type the following command into your command prompt or terminal window:

pip install requests

When you hit “Enter”, pip will connect to the Python Package Index (PyPI) and download the requests package. Once the package is downloaded, pip will install it on your computer, and you'll be able to use it within your Python scripts.

If the package you want to install has dependencies (i.e., other packages that it relies on to function), pip will automatically download and install those as well. This means that you don't have to worry about manually installing every package that your project needs - pip will take care of everything for you.

To verify that a package has been installed correctly, you can start a Python interpreter by typing python into your command prompt or terminal window. Once the Python interpreter has started, you can import the package that you just installed:

import requests

If there are no errors, that means the package was installed correctly, and you can start using it within your Python code.

Installing third-party packages in Python using pip is a straightforward process that can be done by following a few simple steps. By installing packages using pip, you can extend the functionality of Python and take advantage of the vast ecosystem of third-party libraries that is available to Python developers.

While pip is the most commonly used package manager for Python, there are a few other options available for installing third-party packages.

Step-by-Step Instructions for Installing Third-Party Python Packages with Conda

conda is a package manager that is commonly used in the scientific computing and data science communities. Here's how to use conda to install a package:

If you don’t already have conda installed, you can download and install it by following the instructions in the official documentation: https://docs.conda.io/projects/conda/en/latest/user-guide/install/index.html.

Once conda is installed, you can use it to create a new environment for your project. Environments are a way to isolate different projects from one another, so that each project can have its own set of dependencies without conflicting with other projects.

To create a new environment, type the following command into your command prompt or terminal window:

conda create --name my_env

Replace my_env with the name that you want to give your new environment. This will create a new environment with the default Python version installed.

Activate the new environment by typing the following command:

conda activate my_env

Replace my_env with the name of the environment that you just created.

Once you’re in the new environment, you can use conda to install packages by typing the following command:

conda install package_name

Replace package_name with the name of the package that you want to install. For example, to install the numpy package, you would type:

conda install numpy

conda will automatically download and install the package, along with any dependencies that it requires.

To verify that the package was installed correctly, start a Python interpreter by typing python into your command prompt or terminal window. Once the Python interpreter has started, you can import the package that you just installed:

import package_name

If there are no errors, that means the package was installed correctly, and you can start using it within your Python code.

Step-by-Step Instructions for Installing Third-Party Python Packages with Easy_install

easy_install is an older package manager for Python that is still sometimes used. Here's how to use easy_install to install a package:

If you don’t already have easy_install installed, you can download and install it by following the instructions in the official documentation: https://setuptools.pypa.io/en/latest/easy_install.html.

Once easy_install is installed, you can use it to install packages by typing the following command into your command prompt or terminal window:

easy_install package_name

Replace package_name with the name of the package that you want to install. For example, to install the pandas package, you would type:

easy_install pandas

easy_install will automatically download and install the package, along with any dependencies that it requires.

To verify that the package was installed correctly, start a Python interpreter by typing python into your command prompt or terminal window. Once the Python interpreter has started, you can import the package that you just installed:

import package_name

If there are no errors, that means the package was installed correctly, and you can start using it within your Python code.

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Umesh S
Umesh S

Written by Umesh S

Experienced Software Engineer committed to helping others grow and succeed.

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