Python and pip

Documentation for updateself 2.1.0. Versioned source.

Python and pip

Discovery is read-only. The updater inspects PATH interpreters and common versioned command names, reporting their path, versions, externally-managed marker and virtualenv state. It does not scan disks or bootstrap missing pip.

updateself --only python
updateself --only python --venv "$HOME/venvs/cli" --dry-run
updateself --only python --venv "$HOME/venvs/cli" --ask
updateself --only python --python "$HOME/.pyenv/versions/3.13.0/bin/python" --ask

Replace the example paths/version with your existing installation. --python and --venv can be repeated; use absolute paths. Updates run through the selected interpreter's -m pip, not an unrelated pip executable.

Installation	Owner/update path
Distribution/Homebrew Python and pip	Native package manager
Recognised user-owned standalone Python	Explicit --python pip update
Explicit virtual environment	--venv pip update
pipx/uv CLI applications	Their respective components
Conda-managed interpreter/environment	Environment manager; not automated here

System Python is not user-owned just because it lacks a marker. A selected non-venv interpreter must resolve inside the user's home and outside known managed layouts. No sudo pip or --break-system-packages is used.

Bulk packages are a separate opt-in

updateself --only python --venv "$HOME/venvs/cli" --python-packages --ask

This updates pip-listed packages in explicit environments only. It can cross major versions and does not apply unprovided project constraints. It does not update every discovered interpreter's global packages. See Troubleshooting and Supported Tools.