Why Does \'pip3\' Suddenly Throw an \'ImportError: cannot import name \'main\'\' After Upgrading Pip?

Help! Pip Import Error: cannot import name 'main' after Upgrade

Facing a perplexing import error after upgrading pip? You're not alone! Upon attempting to install packages via pip, you encounter this dreaded message: "ImportError: cannot import name 'main'."

Why does this occur? Well, it appears that an unanticipated upgrade of pip—perhaps through a command like "sudo pip install pip --upgrade"—may be the culprit.

Pip 10.x underwent a restructuring of its internal architecture. The "pip3" command you're observing is typically provided by your operating system (Debian in this case) and is not managed by pip itself.

Addressing the Issue:

1. Don't Upgrade System Pip: It's recommended to refrain from upgrading your system pip. Instead, consider employing a virtual environment.

2. Recover pip3 Binary: To restore the pip3 binary, execute the following commands in the terminal:

   • sudo python3 -m pip uninstall pip
   • sudo apt install python3-pip --reinstall
3. Alternative for Upgraded Pip: If you persist in upgrading your system pip, you can invoke pip functionality using python3 -m pip ... rather than pip3.

Additional Information:

For a more in-depth understanding of this issue, reference pip's issue tracker at (link).

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