Guide to Finding Python Installed Packages, Versions, and Library Paths

Keywords:
Python, installed packages, versions, library paths, Spotfire Service for Python.

Introduction:
This guide offers a succinct solution for retrieving essential information regarding installed Python packages, including their versions and associated library paths. It outlines the importance of such data for effective development and troubleshooting.

Problem Description:
In Python development, it's often necessary to ascertain which packages are installed, their respective versions, and the library path where Python searches for modules. This information aids in managing dependencies and diagnosing potential issues.

Solution:

Step 1: Retrieving Installed Packages Information To collect details about installed Python packages, utilize the pkg_resources module and pandas for data manipulation.

import pkg_resources
import pandas as pd

# Get installed packages
installed_packages = pkg_resources.working_set

# Collect package information
package_info_list = [
{'Package': distribution.project_name, 'Version': distribution.version, 'Path': distribution.location}
for distribution in installed_packages
]

# Create a DataFrame
df_packages = pd.DataFrame(package_info_list)

Step 2: Retrieving Python Library Path To access the Python library path, leverage the sys module.

import sys
import pandas as pd

# Retrieve Python library path
python_lib_path = sys.path

# Create a DataFrame
df_lib_path = pd.DataFrame(python_lib_path, columns=['Path'])

Conclusion:
By following the provided solution, developers can efficiently obtain critical information about installed Python packages and their versions, as well as the Python library path. This knowledge streamlines dependency management and facilitates effective troubleshooting in Python projects.

Note: Opening the dashboard in Spotfire Analyst displays information about the local Python environment, while opening it in Spotfire Web Player shows information about the Python service running on the Web Player.

References:

• Spotfire DXP for reference (attached)
• Navigating and Managing Python Packages - Revvity Signals Documentation
  
  https://support.revvitysignals.com/hc/en-us/articles/21790317359636-Navigating-and-Managing-Python-Packages