LykosAI/StabilityMatrix · error · ProcessException

pip show failed with code

Error message

pip show failed with code {result.ExitCode}: {result.StandardOutput}, {result.StandardError}

What it means

PipShow runs `pip show <package>` inside the venv and throws ProcessException when pip exits non-zero. It means pip itself failed to query the package (not merely that the package is missing). The message includes stdout and stderr so the caller can see pip's own diagnostic.

Solutions

1. Check the stderr in the message: if it says 'Package(s) not found', call PipInstall for the package first or treat it as absent.
2. Run `pip show <package>` manually with the venv python (e.g. `venv/bin/python -m pip show <pkg>`) to reproduce.
3. Verify pip is intact: `venv/bin/python -m pip --version`; reinstall pip via `python -m ensurepip --upgrade` if broken.
4. Confirm the correct venv (BaseInstall.RootPath) is being targeted — a wrong venv lacks the package.

Example fix

// before
var info = venv.PipShow("torch");
// after
var info = venv.PipShow("torch"); // wrap in try-catch or pre-check:
// if (await venv.PipInstallResult(new PipInstallParams { Packages = ["torch"] })) { ... }

if (!File.Exists(venv.PipPath)) throw new InvalidOperationException("venv pip missing");
var installed = await venv.PipList(); // pre-check membership instead of relying on PipShow

bool HasPip(PyVenvRunner v) => File.Exists(v.PipPath);

try { var result = venv.PipShow(pkg); ... }
catch (ProcessException ex) when (ex.Message.Contains("not found")) { /* treat package as absent */ }

When it happens

Trigger: Calling PyVenvRunner.PipShow(packageName) when the pip subprocess returns a non-zero exit code — e.g. package not found (exit 1), broken venv, corrupted pip metadata.

Common situations: Querying a package that is not installed in the venv; the venv's pip is broken or was deleted; site-packages was partially removed; package name misspelled.

Related errors

• pip show returned no output for package
• install script failed with code
• get-pip not found
• pip not found
• Venv creation failed with code

AI-assisted analysis of LykosAI/StabilityMatrix@af93d6ef57 (2026-09-12). Data as JSON: /api/errors/ea9ab3f96374de6a. Report an issue: GitHub.

Appendix: source

Thrown at StabilityMatrix.Core/Python/PyVenvRunner.cs:377

                EnvironmentVariables
            )
            .ConfigureAwait(false);

        var packageNotFound =
            result.StandardOutput?.Contains("Package(s) not found", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase)
                == true
            || result.StandardError?.Contains("Package(s) not found", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase)
                == true;

        if (packageNotFound)
        {
            return null;
        }

        // Check return code
        if (result.ExitCode != 0)
        {
            throw new ProcessException(
                $"pip show failed with code {result.ExitCode}: {result.StandardOutput}, {result.StandardError}"
            );
        }

        if (string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(result.StandardOutput))
        {
            throw new ProcessException(
                $"pip show returned no output for package '{packageName}': {result.StandardError}"
            );
        }

        return PipShowResult.Parse(result.StandardOutput);
    }

    /// <summary>
    /// Run a pip index command, return result as PipIndexResult.
    /// </summary>
    public async Task<PipIndexResult?> PipIndex(

View on GitHub (pinned to af93d6ef57)