Fail python-pip after upgrade on Debian 8 and 9

Sometimes after running pip install --upgrade pip, pip fails with the error ImportError: cannot import name main. Here’s the simplest way to fix it.

Error example

pip --version
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "/usr/bin/pip", line 9, in
from pip import main
ImportError: cannot import name main

Fix pip

apt-get purge python-pip
wget https://bootstrap.pypa.io/get-pip.py
python get-pip.py
ln -s /usr/local/bin/pip /usr/bin/pip
pip install --upgrade pip
Human Logic, AI Syntax... Note on Content: I'm a Systems Engineer, not a native English writer. To ensure my technical ideas are clear and accessible, I use AI tools to polish the grammar and style. The workflow is simple: I provide the logic, the code, and the real-world experience. The AI handles the "English-to-Human" translation layer. If you find a bug, that's on me. If you find a perfectly placed comma, that's probably the AI.

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