title: PythonAnywhere + virtualenv: "Could not find platform dependent libraries <exec_prefix>..."
body: <p>I have a Django (1.5.1) site running on Python 2.7.3 in a virtualenv at <a href="http://www.pythonanywhere.com" rel="nofollow">PythonAnywhere</a>. As far as I remember, everything used to work fine. Lately, although I haven't changed anything except some Django code, I get the following message when I run <code>pip</code>:</p>
  
  <pre><code>(venv)11:34 ~ $ pip
  Could not find platform dependent libraries &lt;exec_prefix&gt;
  Consider setting $PYTHONHOME to &lt;prefix&gt;[:&lt;exec_prefix&gt;]
  Traceback (most recent call last):
    File "/*~*//venv/bin/pip", line 5, in &lt;module&gt;
      from pkg_resources import load_entry_point
    File "/*~*//venv/lib/python2.7/site-packages/distribute-0.6.34-py2.7.egg/pkg_resources.py", line 16, in &lt;module&gt;
      import sys, os, zipimport, time, re, imp, types
  ImportError: No module named time
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>Needless to say, <code>pip</code> does not work at all after producing the above error.</p>
  
  <p>When I run <code>python</code> with the virtualenv activated, I again get the following error:</p>
  
  <pre><code>(venv)11:34 ~ $ python
  Could not find platform dependent libraries &lt;exec_prefix&gt;
  Consider setting $PYTHONHOME to &lt;prefix&gt;[:&lt;exec_prefix&gt;]
  Python 2.7.3 (default, Apr 29 2013, 15:12:04) 
  [GCC 4.4.5] on linux2
  Type "help", "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information.
  Traceback (most recent call last):
    File "/*~*//.pythonstartup.py", line 1, in &lt;module&gt;
      import rlcompleter
  ImportError: No module named rlcompleter
  &gt;&gt;&gt;
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>But, thereafter, the Python console appears to be in working order.</p>
  
  <p>Without the virtualenv activated, <code>python</code> runs fine without any errors.</p>
  
  <p>All was well a couple weeks ago when I last ran <code>pip</code> and installed some packages, but now, <code>pip</code> is not working, although all of my Django site's features run just fine. I appreciate any ideas that could get <code>pip</code> to work again.</p>