Check the version of NumPy

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 133 views

Introduction

NumPy and SciPy are two of the most popular and widely used libraries in the Python ecosystem for scientific computing and data analysis. However, installing them can be a bit tricky, especially when using older versions of Python and Ubuntu. In this article, we will guide you through the process of installing NumPy and SciPy for Python 2.7.12 on Ubuntu 16.04.

Prerequisites

Before we begin, make sure you have the following prerequisites installed on your system:

Python 2.7.12: You can check the version of Python installed on your system by running the command python --version in the terminal.
pip: pip is the package installer for Python. You can check if pip is installed by running the command pip --version in the terminal.
Ubuntu 16.04: You can check the version of Ubuntu installed on your system by running the command lsb_release -a in the terminal.

Installing NumPy

NumPy can be installed using pip, the package installer for Python. However, as you mentioned, you got a warning when installing NumPy using pip. This warning is due to the fact that NumPy requires the requests library, which is not installed by default on Ubuntu 16.04.

To install NumPy without any warnings, you can use the following command:

sudo apt-get install python-pip
sudo pip install --upgrade pip
sudo pip install numpy

The first command installs pip, the package installer for Python. The second command upgrades pip to the latest version. The third command installs NumPy.

Installing SciPy

SciPy can be installed using pip, but you need to use the --upgrade flag to install the latest version of SciPy. You also need to use the --ignore-installed flag to ignore any existing installations of SciPy.

To install SciPy, you can use the following command:

sudo apt-get install python-pip
sudo pip install --upgrade pip
sudo pip install --upgrade --ignore-installed scipy

The first command installs pip, the package installer for Python. The second command upgrades pip to the latest version. The third command installs SciPy.

Troubleshooting

If you encounter any issues during the installation process, you can try the following troubleshooting steps:

Check the version of pip: Make sure that pip is installed and up-to-date by running the command pip --version in the terminal.
Check the version of NumPy: Make sure that NumPy is installed and up-to-date by running the command python -c "import numpy; print(numpy.__version__)" in the terminal.
Check the version of SciPy: Make sure that SciPy is installed and up-to-date by running the command python -c "import scipy; print(scipy.__version__)" in the terminal.
Check the dependencies: Make sure that all the dependencies required by NumPy and SciPy are installed by running the command sudo apt-get install -y libatlas-base-dev liblapack-dev libopenblas-dev in the terminal.

Conclusion

Installing NumPy and SciPy for Python 2.7.12 on Ubuntu 16.04 can be a bit tricky, but with the right steps, you can successfully install these libraries. Remember to use the --upgrade flag to install the latest version of SciPy and the --ignore-installed flag to ignore any existing installations of SciPy. If you encounter any issues during the installation process, try the troubleshooting steps outlined above.

Additional Resources

NumPy Documentation: The official documentation for NumPy can be found at https://numpy.org/doc/.
SciPy Documentation: The official documentation for SciPy can be found at https://scipy.org/doc/.
Ubuntu Documentation: The official documentation for Ubuntu can be found at https://help.ubuntu.com/.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How do I install NumPy and SciPy on Ubuntu 16.04? A: You can install NumPy and SciPy using pip, the package installer for Python. Use the following commands to install NumPy and SciPy:

sudo apt-get install python-pip sudo pip install --upgrade pip sudo pip install numpy sudo pip install --upgrade --ignore-installed scipy


*   **Q: Why do I get a warning when installing NumPy using pip?**
    A: You get a warning when installing NumPy using pip because NumPy requires the `requests` library, which is not installed by default on Ubuntu 16.04.


Q: How do I check the version of NumPy and SciPy?
A: You can check the version of NumPy and SciPy by running the following commands in the terminal:



python -c "import numpy; print(numpy.version)"
python -c "import scipy; print(scipy.version)"

Q: How do I troubleshoot issues during the installation process? A: You can troubleshoot issues during the installation process by checking the version of pip, NumPy, and SciPy, and by checking the dependencies required by NumPy and SciPy.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) =====================================

Q: What is NumPy and why do I need it?

A: NumPy (Numerical Python) is a library for the Python programming language, adding support for large, multi-dimensional arrays and matrices, along with a large collection of high-level mathematical functions to operate on these arrays.

You need NumPy if you are working with numerical data, such as arrays and matrices, and want to perform mathematical operations on them. NumPy is widely used in scientific computing, data analysis, and machine learning.

Q: What is SciPy and why do I need it?

A: SciPy (Scientific Python) is a library for the Python programming language, built on top of NumPy, that provides functions for scientific and engineering applications.

You need SciPy if you are working with scientific and engineering applications, such as signal processing, linear algebra, optimization, statistics, and more. SciPy provides a wide range of functions and tools for these applications, making it a essential library for many scientific and engineering tasks.

Q: How do I install NumPy and SciPy on Ubuntu 16.04?

A: You can install NumPy and SciPy on Ubuntu 16.04 using pip, the package installer for Python. Use the following commands to install NumPy and SciPy:

sudo apt-get install python-pip
sudo pip install --upgrade pip
sudo pip install numpy
sudo pip install --upgrade --ignore-installed scipy

Q: Why do I get a warning when installing NumPy using pip?

A: You get a warning when installing NumPy using pip because NumPy requires the requests library, which is not installed by default on Ubuntu 16.04.

Q: How do I check the version of NumPy and SciPy?

A: You can check the version of NumPy and SciPy by running the following commands in the terminal:

python -c "import numpy; print(numpy.__version__)"
python -c "import scipy; print(scipy.__version__)"

Q: How do I troubleshoot issues during the installation process?

A: You can troubleshoot issues during the installation process by checking the version of pip, NumPy, and SciPy, and by checking the dependencies required by NumPy and SciPy.

Q: What are the dependencies required by NumPy and SciPy?

A: The dependencies required by NumPy and SciPy include:

libatlas-base-dev
liblapack-dev
libopenblas-dev

You can install these dependencies using the following command:

sudo apt-get install -y libatlas-base-dev liblapack-dev libopenblas-dev

Q: How do I uninstall NumPy and SciPy?

A: You can uninstall NumPy and SciPy using the following commands:

sudo pip uninstall numpy
sudo pip uninstall scipy

Q: How do I update NumPy and SciPy?

A: You can update NumPy and SciPy using the following commands:

sudo pip install --upgrade numpy
sudo pip install --upgrade --ignore-installed scipy

Q: What are the benefits of using NumPy and SciPy?

A: The benefits of using NumPy and SciPy include:

Faster computation: NumPy and SciPy provide faster computation than using Python's built-in data types.
More efficient memory usage: NumPy and SciPy provide more efficient memory usage than using Python's built-in data types.
Improved accuracy: NumPy and SciPy provide improved accuracy than using Python's built-in data types.
Wider range of functions: NumPy and SciPy provide a wider range of functions than using Python's built-in data types.

Q: What are the limitations of using NumPy and SciPy?

A: The limitations of using NumPy and SciPy include:

Steep learning curve: NumPy and SciPy have a steep learning curve, requiring significant time and effort to learn.
Dependence on external libraries: NumPy and SciPy depend on external libraries, which can be a problem if these libraries are not available or are not compatible with your system.
Limited support for certain data types: NumPy and SciPy have limited support for certain data types, such as complex numbers and matrices.

Q: Can I use NumPy and SciPy with other programming languages?

A: Yes, you can use NumPy and SciPy with other programming languages, such as C, C++, and Fortran. NumPy and SciPy provide interfaces to these languages, allowing you to use their functions and data types in your code.

Q: Can I use NumPy and SciPy with other operating systems?

A: Yes, you can use NumPy and SciPy with other operating systems, such as Windows and macOS. NumPy and SciPy are available on these operating systems, and you can install them using pip or other package managers.

Q: Can I use NumPy and SciPy with other versions of Python?

A: Yes, you can use NumPy and SciPy with other versions of Python, such as Python 3.x. NumPy and SciPy are available on these versions of Python, and you can install them using pip or other package managers.