Confusing Python install in user local (virtualenv, pip, distribute)

I tried to install python below way. But this did not work. This take "error: bad install directory or PYTHONPATH".

What's the proper way to install pip, virtualenv, and distribute for Python?

Make directory

$ mkdir -p ~/.python

Add .bashrc

#Use local python
export PATH=$HOME/.python/bin:$PATH
export PYTHONPATH=$HOME/.python

Create a file ~/.pydistutils.cfg

[install]
prefix=~/.python

Get install script

$ cd ~/src
$ curl -O http://python-distribute.org/distribute_setup.py

Execute and Error

$ python ./distribute_setup.py
Extracting in /tmp/tmpsT2kdA
Now working in /tmp/tmpsT2kdA/distribute-0.6.15
Installing Distribute
Before install bootstrap.
Scanning installed packages
No setuptools distribution foundrunning install
Checking .pth file support in /home/sane/.python/lib/python2.6/site-packages//usr/bin/python -E -c pass
TEST FAILED: /home/sane/.python/lib/python2.6/site-packages/ does NOT support .pth files
error: bad install directory or PYTHONPATH
You are attempting to install a package to a directory that is not
on PYTHONPATH and which Python does not read ".pth" files from.  The
installation directory you specified (via --install-dir, --prefix, or
the distutils default setting) was:
/home/sane/.python/lib/python2.6/site-packages/
and your PYTHONPATH environment variable currently contains:
'/home/sane/.python'
Here are some of your options for correcting the problem:
* You can choose a different installation directory, i.e., one that is 
on PYTHONPATH or supports .pth files
* You can add the installation directory to the PYTHONPATH environment 
variable.  (It must then also be on PYTHONPATH whenever yo开发者_StackOverflow社区u run 
Python and want to use the package(s) you are installing.)
* You can set up the installation directory to support ".pth" files by 
using one of the approaches described here:
http://packages.python.org/distribute/easy_install.html#custom-installation-locations

Please make the appropriate changes for your system and try again.
Something went wrong during the installation.
See the error message above.

My environment('sane' is my unix user name.)

$ python -V
Python 2.6.4
$ which python
/usr/bin/python
$ uname -a
Linux localhost.localdomain 2.6.34.8-68.fc13.x86_64 #1 SMP Thu Feb 17 15:03:58 UTC 2011 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux

Usually I installed distributed/easy_install aka setuptools in my global Python installation together with virtualenv. From this point on I can created dedicated virtualalized environments using

virtualenv --no-site-packages name-of-environment

Really no idea why to fiddle around with PYTHONPATH here.

Adding /path/to/name-of-environment/bin to $PATH is good enough for adding the virtualized Python to your $PATH. You don't need any else.

I choice pythonbrew. I can use multiple Pythons in my home directory by this. It's a great job.

utahta/pythonbrew - GitHub https://github.com/utahta/pythonbrew