How do I list the files associated with a Python package installed using pip or easy_install?

Question

I've installed a Python package using pip, which is a replacement for easy_install. How do I get a list of which installed files are associated with this package?

Basically, I'm looking for the Python package equivalent of

dpkg -L

or

rpm -ql

score 114 · Accepted Answer · answered Sep 25 '13 at 10:54

114

You could do that by using command:

pip show -f <package>

answered Sep 25 '13 at 10:54

Bunyk

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Does not work for me, `pip: error: No command by the name pip show`. (Using pip 1.1) – Zitrax Dec 02 '13 at 11:40
@Zitrax Well, currently I am using pip 1.4.1, and it works, may be you should upgrade pip. – Bunyk Dec 02 '13 at 16:54
Yes, here is the answer to that: http://stackoverflow.com/a/14060138/816449 It works in 1.2.1.post1. – Bunyk Dec 02 '13 at 16:58
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It appears this doesn't work for every package. E.g. `pip show -f nbconvert` gives `Files: Cannot locate installed-files.txt`. – Alex Coventry May 27 '16 at 12:54
It also doesn't work for packages installed using `python setup.py develop`. – akaihola Dec 16 '16 at 08:23

score 5 · Answer 2 · answered Feb 01 '19 at 23:58

Two years later, most pip instances have show, however, not all packages have the installed-files.txt program for the subcommand to read.

A workaround is to fire up the python shell and do this:

>>> import eventlet
>>> eventlet.__path__
    ['/usr/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/eventlet']

where "eventlet" is the package I installed with pip.

score 4 · Answer 3 · answered Jan 06 '11 at 20:36

4

I use virtualenv with pip, so here are the steps I follow. Assume I'm working in the dave_venv virtual environment.

$ cat ~/.bashrc

export WORKON_HOME=/usr/local/virtualenvs

$ cd /usr/local/virtualenvs/dave_venv/lib/python2.6/site-packages
$ ls # This should show <your_package>.
$ cd <your_package>
$ ls # now you're looking at your package's files.

answered Jan 06 '11 at 20:36

Dave Aaron Smith

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works in most cases, but not if the package installs any command-line scripts, which would end up in usr/local/bin.... also, some packages may install multiple modules... – hwjp Oct 31 '12 at 11:33
@hwjp Do you know the answer to: [Find which python package owns a binary](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/55864568/find-which-python-conda-package-owns-a-binary)? – Tom Hale Apr 27 '19 at 06:26

How do I list the files associated with a Python package installed using pip or easy_install?

3 Answers3