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uv pip install --system complaints 'is externally managed' #10300

@dadaphl

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@dadaphl

Hello,
When I try to install a module system wide it tells me that The Python installation is managed by uv. Which is confusing and seems contradictory to me as I'm specifically using uv to "manage the installation" in the first place.

➜  ~ uv pip install --system neovim
Using Python 3.10.16 environment at: .local/share/uv/python/cpython-3.10.16-linux-x86_64-gnu
error: The interpreter at .local/share/uv/python/cpython-3.10.16-linux-x86_64-gnu is externally managed, and indicates the following:

  This Python installation is managed by uv and should not be modified.

Consider creating a virtual environment with `uv venv`.

I'm not a python dev, just relying on modules. Sorry in advance if my problem is obvious. But also by reading the doc I could not figure out if its a bug or I just don't understand how uv pip is intended to be used.
For context: I need to install the neovim module 'globally' for neovim have python functionality. So think that creating a virtual environment is not the right thing to do in this context.

I have installed uv with yay on arch linux and installed python 3.10.16.

➜  ~ python3 --version
Python 3.10.16
➜  ~ python --version
Python 3.10.16
➜  ~ which python3
/home/user/.local/bin/python3
➜  ~ which python
/home/user/.local/bin/python
➜  ~ uv -V
uv 0.5.14 (9f1ba2b96 2025-01-02)

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