Software⏱️ 3 min read📅 2026-06-19

How to Fix: PYTHON EGG Cache extraction error - PYTHON_EGG_CACHE

Python egg cache extraction error on Fedora 18 with Apache server.

Quick Answer: Check the Python egg cache directory permissions and try setting the PYTHON_EGG_CACHE environment variable to an accessible directory.

📋 Table of Contents

  1. 🛑 Root Causes of the Error
  2. 🛠️ Step-by-Step Verified Fixes
  3. 💡 Conclusion

The Python Egg Cache extraction error, specifically 'Permission denied: '/var/www/html/python-eggs/psycopg2-2.0.12-py2.7-linux-i686.egg-tmp''', affects users who have installed the MapFish virtual environment and are trying to run their application using WSGI on an Apache HTTPD server. This error occurs when the Python egg cache directory is set to a location where the current user account does not have write access.

This issue can be frustrating for developers as it prevents them from successfully running their applications. However, with the right troubleshooting steps, it is possible to resolve this problem and get back to working on your application.

🛑 Root Causes of the Error

  • The primary cause of this error is that the Python egg cache directory '/var/www/html/python-eggs' does not have write access for the current user account. This can be due to various reasons such as incorrect permissions or ownership issues.
  • Another possible alternative reason could be a misconfiguration of the PYTHON_EGG_CACHE environment variable, which points to an inaccessible directory.

🛠️ Step-by-Step Verified Fixes

Changing the Python egg cache directory

  1. Step 1: Set the PYTHON_EGG_CACHE environment variable to point to an accessible directory. This can be done by adding the following line to your system's bashrc file or profile script: export PYTHON_EGG_CACHE=/path/to/accessible/directory
  2. Step 2: For example, if you want to use '/home/user/python_eggs' as the new cache directory, the command would be: export PYTHON_EGG_CACHE=/home/user/python_eggs
  3. Step 3: After making this change, restart your terminal or run 'source ~/.bashrc' to apply the changes.

Giving full permissions to the existing egg cache directory

  1. Step 1: Give the '/var/www/html/python-eggs' directory full permissions (777) using the following command: chmod 777 /var/www/html/python-eggs
  2. Step 2: This will allow the current user account to write to this directory, but it is not recommended as it can pose security risks. A better approach would be to set the PYTHON_EGG_CACHE environment variable to an accessible directory.

💡 Conclusion

To resolve the Python Egg Cache extraction error, you can try either changing the Python egg cache directory by setting the PYTHON_EGG_CACHE environment variable or giving full permissions to the existing egg cache directory. If neither of these methods work, it may be necessary to investigate further and adjust your system's configuration accordingly.

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