Using pip launcher on Windows when path contains spaces

[Drekin]

There is a problem when trying to run pip.exe when the path of Python installation contain spaces. Some launcher code adds extra quotes, which results in incorrect path and results in fatal error in launcher. See for example http://stackoverflow.com/questions/24627525/fatal-error-in-launcher-unable-to-create-process-using-c-program-files-x86. I understand that this is probably issue of the code producing the launcher (there is the same problem with IPython launcher), but I'm not sure where to report it.

[alexpilotti]

Hi, I managed to solve the issue by removing the quotes in the "ScriptMaker" used to generate the exe launchers.
As an alternative using short paths works as well (Windows paths have always their 8.3 counterpart, e.g.: "C:\progra~1" for "C:\Program Files", as this avoids the need for quotes

The problem is that Python is not working well when reading paths with quotes in the "shebang" section of the exe launchers.

Here's the proof of concept:

import os
import sys

from pip._vendor.distlib import scripts

specs = 'nova = novaclient.shell:main' 

scripts_path = os.path.join(os.path.dirname(sys.executable), 'Scripts')
m = scripts.ScriptMaker(None, scripts_path)

# This is e.g.: "C:\program Files\blah\blah\Python.exe"
m.executable = sys.executable
m.make(specs)

[pfmoore]

I have a feeling this was fixed recently in distlib, and vendored into pip. Could you check if the issue still exists with the development version of pip from github?

[alexpilotti]

Did some quick tests and it worked. Closing the pull request by now, I'll investigate further and reopen it in case.

Thanks!

[alexpilotti]

Did some further investigations, the issue was in the "t32.exe" launcher and has been fixed by this patch in distlib:

https://bitbucket.org/vinay.sajip/distlib/commits/e231db5d1b01ac941f660ae54d54477a753712f8?at=default

IMO the issue can be considered closed.

[hyiltiz]

Still experiencing the problem when my pip had no spaces:
$ pip install --upgrade spyder
Fatal error in launcher: Unable to create process using '"C:\Python34\python.exe" "c:\Python34\Scripts\pip.exe" install --upgrade spyder'

[laike9m]

Comfirmed this on Windows 7 with Python 3.5.

My pip is in C:\Python3\Scripts\, no space.

[Ivoz]

@laike9m could you describe the exact error you're getting?

[laike9m]

C:\Users\dell>pip freeze
Fatal error in launcher: Unable to create process using '“‘