ImportError: cannot import name main when running pip --version command in windows7 32 bit

The bug is found in pip 10.0.0.

In linux you need to modify file: /usr/bin/pip from:

from pip import main
if __name__ == '__main__':
    sys.exit(main())

to this:

from pip import __main__
if __name__ == '__main__':
    sys.exit(__main__._main())

Even though the original question seems to be from 2015, this 'bug' seems to affect users installing pip-10.0.0 as well.

The workaround is not to modify pip, however to change the way pip is called. Instead of calling /usr/bin/pip call pip via Python itself. For example, instead of the below:

pip install <package>

If from Python version 2 (or default Python binary is called python) do :

python -m pip install <package>

or if from Python version 3:

python3 -m pip install <package> 

On Ubuntu Server 16, I have the same problem with python27. Try this:

Change

from pip import main
if __name__ == '__main__':
    sys.exit(main())

To

from pip._internal import main
if __name__ == '__main__':
    sys.exit(main())