How to solve "ERROR: Command errored out with exit status 1: python setup.py egg_info " problem on Linux Mint 19.3?

Question

I have Linux Mint 19.3 xfce.

When I am running any pip command (for eg this command

pip install -r requirements.txt

I am getting error

ERROR: Command errored out with exit status 1: python setup.py egg_info

Please help

Solution

I unknowingly upgraded system version of python which caused this error.

So while upgarding python never use make install but use make altinstall.

So problem was solved after reinstalling the OS.

Comments

[rubaiat]

update setuptools using pip install -U setuptools. Try to install a package and provide us the exact error. It should show us the file location that is causing this problem.

[Pragyan]

@rubaiat see this gist for result of your suggestion. now what to do?

[Pragyan]

@rubaiat also see this post on linux mint forum.

[rubaiat]

Did you try this gist

[Pragyan]

see this gist for result of suggested command applied in both non virtual and virtual env.

[Pragyan]

also see this post on linux mint forum.

[Time4Tea]

Hi. Sorry, but I think should have been a comment, as opposed to an answer. You are essentially asking the OP to try something and provide more information.

[Windowlicker]

@Pragyan Thanks for providing the output. It shows that you are trying to mix Python v2 and v3 in the same virtual environment. You should avoid doing so. Unless you have specific requirements that explicitly ask for using Python 2, please just stick to Python 3. Then create a virtual environment (python3 -m venv myenvname), use it (source myenvname/bin/activate) and run pip (pip3 install -r requirements.txt). Doable?

[Windowlicker]

@Time4Tea Totally agree. I just can't post comments (yet). Thus, the only other option would have been to not post anything at all. I'm happy to update the answer to actually be helpful (once that's possible).

[Pragyan]

@rolando I was having problems because I unknowingly upgraded system version so the files messed up.

[Windowlicker]

@Pragyan Are these problems resolved now? (Upgrading the system's Python is not the best of all ideas, granted. But personally, I don't second that one necessarily needs to reinstall the whole system just because of this.)

[Time4Tea]

@rolando Ok, sounds good. If you update your answer, then ping me in the comments and I will upvote (if it seems helpful).