pip install RandomWords: "No module named 'setuptools.command.test'"

Question

I'm using pip 24.2 and Python 3.12.4. I want to install this:

$ pip install RandomWords

Preparing metadata (setup.py) ... error
error: subprocess-exited-with-error
python setup.py egg_info did not run successfully.
exit code: 1

from setuptools.command.test import test as TestCommand
ModuleNotFoundError: No module named 'setuptools.command.test'

 note: This error originates from a subprocess, and is likely not a problem with pip.
error: metadata-generation-failed

× Encountered error while generating package metadata.
╰─> See above for output.

note: This is an issue with the package mentioned above, not pip.
hint: See above for details.

Why is this and how can I fix it?

Answer 1

It seems that their package is broken. This is because in setup.py they are doing

from setuptools.command.test import test as TestCommand

but setuptools.command.test was removed on 28 Jul 2024 (yesterday): https://setuptools.pypa.io/en/stable/history.html#v72-0-0

Here's a similar issue on the official GitHub repo: https://github.com/pypa/setuptools/issues/4519

---

To solve it locally do one of the following:

• downgrade your setuptools as @reza.safiyat suggested;
• use a project manager (like Poetry or Hatch) and pin setuptools = "<72.0.0".

---

UPDATE

setuptools 72.0.0 has been yanked (https://pypi.org/project/setuptools/72.0.0/#history) and the removal of command.test has been postponed to November 15.

Everything should work as it did yesterday (with the addition of a new big warning, hopefully).

Answer 2

This module was removed from in this commit.

Using setuptools<72.0.0 will alleviate this problem.

Steps you may use once you have sourced the relevant python environment:

# Install setuptools below v72.0.0. Add `-U` after `install` in case you want to upgrade to a version below 72.0.0, if you already have setuptools installed.
python -m pip install 'setuptools<72.0.0'
# Install RandomWords.
python -m pip install RandomWords