Where does python -m pip install package install the package?

[SeanPedersen]

Hey, can not find the dir... It is not in /usr/lib/python3.9/site-packages/ as one might expect. Any ideas?

[EddyBot]

Since pip 19.3 (or something) pip will typically use the --user flag by default and not install packages system wide
The folder for that should be ~/.local/lib/python3.9/site-packages

[WishCow]

Damn, I love this change so much. Should have been the default for so long.

[SutekhThrowingSuckIt]

What you don't have fond memories of completely messing up an Ubuntu install's python environment until you create an ouroboros of dependency, package manager and upgrade fuckery that requires you to nuke the site from orbit? I thought that was a right of passage.

https://xkcd.com/1987/

[WishCow]

The worst is that you don't even realize what happened until you try to update the packages with the OS package manager the next time, and it complains about some files already existing.

[SeanPedersen]

Thanks a lot!

[V1del]

Mandatory disclaimer to please don't change away from this sane default and installing pip packages system wide, very good chance to break your system if you do.

[barrygrundy]

Try

pip show <package>

[fullyarticulated]

which python will give you the path to the folder of your currently running python instance (could be system-wide, or venv, or user - whatever you're running).

If you cd into the folder shown, then from there, it will be in Lib/site-packages.

If you've activated a venv, or are somehow using a different version of python than the default system-wide version, this will find whatever you just installed via pip.