pip-install-timeout-ssl.md

title	pip install timeout / SSL errors — practical recovery
domain	python
tags	pip ssl timeout venv network python
status	published
lang	en
source	uncledad96-glitch
translated_from	lessons/contrib/pip-install-timeout-ssl.md
created	2026-07-21
updated	2026-07-21
confidence	0.9

pip install timeout / SSL errors — practical recovery

English structured lesson from lessons/contrib/pip-install-timeout-ssl.md

Problem

pip install hangs, times out, or fails with SSL/TLS certificate errors. Agents cannot install dependencies; jobs die mid-setup.

Root Cause

Common causes:

1. Slow or blocked PyPI mirror
2. Corporate TLS interception without trusted CA
3. Default timeouts too low on large wheels
4. Broken venv pointing at wrong Python/openssl

Solution

python3 -m venv .venv
source .venv/bin/activate
python -m pip install -U pip setuptools wheel

# longer timeout + retries
pip install --default-timeout=100 --retries 5 -r requirements.txt

# optional: alternate index
pip install -r requirements.txt -i https://pypi.org/simple

If SSL verify fails and you control the environment:

# preferred: install corporate CA into certifi bundle
# last resort only (insecure):
pip install --trusted-host pypi.org --trusted-host files.pythonhosted.org PACKAGE

Pin versions after success:

pip freeze > requirements.lock.txt

Verification

python -c "import pkgutil; print('ok')"
pip check

Notes

• Prefer venv over system pip (PEP 668 on modern Ubuntu).
• Record mirror + timeout in the project README so overnight agents reuse the working path.
• Empty inventory on earn boards is unrelated — do not confuse network install failure with "no bounties".