title: installing modules in python - pip, distribute, nose, virtualenv
body: <p>I'm aware that there are similar questions on SO. This one, for example: <a href="https://stackoverflow.com/questions/4324558/whats-the-proper-way-to-install-pip-virtualenv-and-distribute-for-python">What&#39;s the proper way to install pip, virtualenv, and distribute for Python?</a></p>
  
  <p>I'd like to install these modules as per my Learn Python the Hard Way tutorial: <a href="http://learnpythonthehardway.org/book/ex46.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">http://learnpythonthehardway.org/book/ex46.html</a></p>
  
  <p>I managed (I think) to install pip by using <code>sudo easy_install pip</code> but when I then ran <code>pydoc modules</code> I could not see it. So I'm not even sure it's installed.</p>
  
  <p>The answer above in question 4324558 is difficult for me to understand: what's a bootstrap, what's curl and why would I set up a virtual environment? Yes, as a learner I should try to pick up as much as I can but I don't want to first create the universe, I just want to get the task at hand done.</p>
  
  <p>How do I install these modules? Is it as complicated as it sounds in the quoted answer? The top voted answer says "Install virtualenv into a bootstrap virtual environment. Use the that virtual environment to create more. Since virtualenv ships with pip and distribute, you get everything from one install."</p>
  
  <p>I really don't get what all that means. Isn't there something about the "Zen" of python and a one true way to get things done? Or am I out of context here? What is "the right way" to install these modules?</p>
  
  <p>I tried:
  <code>pip install virtualenv</code> in the terminal and received the following output:</p>
  
  <pre><code>Wheel installs require setuptools &gt;= 0.8 for dist-info support.
  pip's wheel support requires setuptools &gt;= 0.8 for dist-info support.
  Storing debug log for failure in /Users/myname/.pip/pip.log
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>I'm using a Mac and python 2.7</p>