Overview
Python’s integrated package manager, pip, fails to install packages when Python 3.0 and above is used raising a PermissionError. Below is an abbreviated sample output:
[myadmin@sol]$ pip install django Downloading/unpacking django Installing collected packages: django Cleaning up... Exception: Traceback (most recent call last): File "/.socket/python/python3.4/site-packages/pip/wheel.py", line 205, in clobber os.makedirs(destdir) File "/.socket/python/python3.4/os.py", line 237, in makedirs mkdir(name, mode) PermissionError: [Errno 13] Permission denied: '/.socket/python/python3.4/site-packages/django'
Cause
pip bundled with Python 3.0 and above include support for wheel, a successor to an earlier package format, egg. wheel is called after package installation without exposing custom configuration. wheel, unaware that libraries are installed to version-specific directories, tries to install in the system Python location unsuccessfully.
Solution
Disable wheel processing with --no-use-wheel as an argument to pip install or add the following configuration within ~/.pip/pip.conf, inside your home directory:
[global] use-wheel = no
Most accounts should have wheel disabled by default.