can’t install pip anymore with python 2.7?

pip install --upgrade "pip < 21.0"

The latest pip has dropped support for Python 2
And you cannot install the latest pip via get-pip.py using Python 2.7.

Update: Found an answer here with the script for Python 2.7
https://stackoverflow.com/a/65866547/429476.

You should upgrade to Python 3.
You can use your Linux package manager if you using a Linux distro which have only Python2.7. Note – it installs an older version of Pip that that comes from above script.

If you installed Python from a package manager on Linux, you should always install pip for that Python installation using the same source.
https://pip.pypa.io/en/stable/installing/ –> https://packaging.python.org/guides/installing-using-linux-tools/

# curl https://bootstrap.pypa.io/get-pip.py -o get-pip.py
  % Total    % Received % Xferd  Average Speed   Time    Time     Time  Current
                                 Dload  Upload   Total   Spent    Left  Speed
100 1883k  100 1883k    0     0  6584k      0 --:--:-- --:--:-- --:--:-- 6584k

# python get-pip.py --user

Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "get-pip.py", line 24226, in <module>
    main()
  File "get-pip.py", line 199, in main
    bootstrap(tmpdir=tmpdir)
  File "get-pip.py", line 82, in bootstrap
    from pip._internal.cli.main import main as pip_entry_point
  File "/tmp/tmpyG_UJ3/pip.zip/pip/_internal/cli/main.py", line 60
    sys.stderr.write(f"ERROR: {exc}")
                                   ^
SyntaxError: invalid syntax

# sudo apt-get install python-pip
# python -m pip --version
pip 9.0.1 from /usr/lib/python2.7/dist-packages (python 2.7)

Yeah pip has dropped it’s support to python 2.7. If you still want to use it for python 2.7, downgrading the pip will help you:

sudo easy_install pip==20.3.4

A working solution:

1. Have an installed python2

2. Have an installed python3 (yes 3)

3. Install a legacy pip to python3 (eg 9):
   python3 -m pip install --upgrade "pip==9"

4. Find where it has been installed to: python3 -m pip show pip

5. Copy to python2’s PATH:

   sudo cp -r /home/usr/.local/lib/python3.8/site-packages/pip-9.0.0.dist-info/ /usr/local/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/

   sudo cp -r /home/raczb/.local/lib/python3.8/site-packages/pip /usr/local/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/

6. Check: python2.7 -m pip --version

7. Re-upgrade python3’s pip.