I've just noticed that python-pip, python-setuptools, python3-pip and python3-setuptools are using update-alternatives. Why would this approach result in compatibility problems? Users that install python3 + pip on a system where they have python2 already will have a totally messed up environment. /usr/bin/python -> python2.7 /usr/bin/pip -> /etc/alternatives/pip -> /usr/bin/pip3.4 So it is also my opinion that this is a bug.