How do I install the Pip skill?

Run npx skillmds@latest add dvcrn/pip in your terminal (requires Node.js), paste this page's agent-chat prompt into Claude, Cursor, or any MCP-connected agent, or download the SKILL.md file and copy it into your agent's skills directory.

This skill has not completed SkillMD's automated safety review yet. Independent scanners report: SkillSpector: PASS, Skill Scanner: PASS. Capability flags: executes scripts. SkillMD never runs a skill's scripts for you; review the SKILL.md before installing.

Which AI agents work with Pip?

This skill is tagged as working with Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex. SKILL.md is an open format, so most agents that read a skills directory can load it too.

Yes. Installing skills from SkillMD is free, and the skill stays under its author's original license.

dvcrn (@dvcrn) published this skill. Their other Agent Skills are listed on their SkillMD profile.

Pip by dvcrn — Agent Skill

Name: Pip
Rating: 4.2 (5 reviews)
Author: dvcrn

Pip

Use pip for Python package install, upgrade, freeze, and dependency file workflows with virtual environments first. Use when handling requirements.txt, pip install errors, pipx vs pip decisions, or reproducible Python dependency setup.

dvcrn Updated Sep 8, 2026 32 repo stars

File contents

pip

Use this skill for Python dependency management with safe defaults and reproducible results.

Scope

Create and maintain project-local virtual environments
Install, upgrade, uninstall, and inspect Python packages
Manage requirements.txt and lock-like pinned outputs (pip freeze)
Troubleshoot common pip failures (externally-managed-environment, resolver conflicts, wheel/build failures)

Safety Defaults

Prefer isolated installs:
- project: python3 -m venv .venv
- app CLI: pipx (if available)
Avoid global installs unless user explicitly asks.
Prefer python3 -m pip ... instead of bare pip to avoid interpreter mismatch.
Never run unknown setup.py or arbitrary install scripts without explicit user approval.

Fast Path

# Initialize venv once per project
python3 -m venv .venv
. .venv/bin/activate
python3 -m pip install --upgrade pip

# Install deps
python3 -m pip install -r requirements.txt

# Pin exact versions
python3 -m pip freeze > requirements.txt

Common Operations

# Install one or more packages
python3 -m pip install requests pydantic

# Upgrade specific package(s)
python3 -m pip install --upgrade requests

# Uninstall package
python3 -m pip uninstall -y requests

# Show package details
python3 -m pip show requests

# List outdated packages
python3 -m pip list --outdated

Reproducible Dependency Flows

# Install from lock-like file
python3 -m pip install -r requirements.txt

# Generate pinned snapshot
python3 -m pip freeze > requirements.txt

# Export JSON metadata for automation
python3 -m pip list --format=json

Troubleshooting

externally-managed-environment:
- Use a venv (python3 -m venv .venv) and retry inside it.
- If user asked for app CLI install, prefer pipx install <tool>.
No matching distribution found:
- Check Python version compatibility.
- Check package name/version typo.
- Try python3 -m pip index versions <pkg> when available.
Build/compile failure:
- Upgrade build tooling: python3 -m pip install -U pip setuptools wheel
- Install system headers/toolchain if needed, then retry.

Helper Script

Use the bundled helper for repeatable flows:

{baseDir}/scripts/pip-safe.sh detect
{baseDir}/scripts/pip-safe.sh ensure-venv .venv
{baseDir}/scripts/pip-safe.sh install --venv .venv -- requests pydantic
{baseDir}/scripts/pip-safe.sh requirements --venv .venv requirements.txt
{baseDir}/scripts/pip-safe.sh freeze --venv .venv > requirements.txt

Decision Rules

If task is project dependencies: use venv + pip.
If task is standalone CLI tool install for a user: suggest pipx first.
If system policy blocks global installs: stay in venv and explain why.

---name: pipdescription: Use pip for Python package install, upgrade, freeze, and dependency file workflows with virtual environments first. Use when handling requirements.txt, pip install errors, pipx vs pip decisions, or reproducible Python dependency setup.---# pipUse this skill for Python dependency management with safe defaults and reproducible results.## Scope- Create and maintain project-local virtual environments- Install, upgrade, uninstall, and inspect Python packages- Manage `requirements.txt` and lock-like pinned outputs (`pip freeze`)- Troubleshoot common pip failures (`externally-managed-environment`, resolver conflicts, wheel/build failures)## Safety Defaults- Prefer isolated installs: - project: `python3 -m venv .venv` - app CLI: `pipx` (if available)- Avoid global installs unless user explicitly asks.- Prefer `python3 -m pip ...` instead of bare `pip` to avoid interpreter mismatch.- Never run unknown `setup.py` or arbitrary install scripts without explicit user approval.## Fast Path```bash# Initialize venv once per projectpython3 -m venv .venv. .venv/bin/activatepython3 -m pip install --upgrade pip# Install depspython3 -m pip install -r requirements.txt# Pin exact versionspython3 -m pip freeze > requirements.txt```## Common Operations```bash# Install one or more packagespython3 -m pip install requests pydantic# Upgrade specific package(s)python3 -m pip install --upgrade requests# Uninstall packagepython3 -m pip uninstall -y requests# Show package detailspython3 -m pip show requests# List outdated packagespython3 -m pip list --outdated```## Reproducible Dependency Flows```bash# Install from lock-like filepython3 -m pip install -r requirements.txt# Generate pinned snapshotpython3 -m pip freeze > requirements.txt# Export JSON metadata for automationpython3 -m pip list --format=json```## Troubleshooting- `externally-managed-environment`: - Use a venv (`python3 -m venv .venv`) and retry inside it. - If user asked for app CLI install, prefer `pipx install <tool>`.- `No matching distribution found`: - Check Python version compatibility. - Check package name/version typo. - Try `python3 -m pip index versions <pkg>` when available.- Build/compile failure: - Upgrade build tooling: `python3 -m pip install -U pip setuptools wheel` - Install system headers/toolchain if needed, then retry.## Helper ScriptUse the bundled helper for repeatable flows:```bash{baseDir}/scripts/pip-safe.sh detect{baseDir}/scripts/pip-safe.sh ensure-venv .venv{baseDir}/scripts/pip-safe.sh install --venv .venv -- requests pydantic{baseDir}/scripts/pip-safe.sh requirements --venv .venv requirements.txt{baseDir}/scripts/pip-safe.sh freeze --venv .venv > requirements.txt```## Decision Rules- If task is project dependencies: use venv + pip.- If task is standalone CLI tool install for a user: suggest `pipx` first.- If system policy blocks global installs: stay in venv and explain why.

Frequently asked questions

Pip