python 2.7.5 install on OSX (10.8+) using brew (pip, easy_install, virtualenv, virtualenvwrapper)

gistfile1.sh

# In case you had some strange python installation
# NOTE: .pydistutils.cfg seems to be not compatible with brew install python
# areas I needed to clean before installation
# clean up ~/Library/Python
# clean up .local

# preconditions:
# xcode with command line tools installed
xcode-select --install

# homebrew: https://github.com/mxcl/homebrew/wiki/Installation

brew install python --framework

#### update/create your .bash_profile
#homebrew
export PATH=/usr/local/bin:/usr/local/sbin:${PATH}

#virtualenv wrapper
export WORKON_HOME=$HOME/.virtualenvs
source /usr/local/bin/virtualenvwrapper.sh

#### end of .bash_login

# start new shell and make sure you are using /usr/local/bin/python
# note that it will complain that /usr/local/bin/virtualenvwrapper.sh does not exist
# as we havent installed virtualenvwrapper yet

which python
python --version
# make sure its python >=2.7.5

# time to install virtualenvironment
pip install virtualenvwrapper
mkdir $HOME/.virtualenvs

# start new shell and from now on you will have access to mkvirtualenv

# NOTE: that the only time you should be asked for yout password is during homebrew installation
# if all goes correctly than none of above commands would ask you for your passoword / would want you to use sudo

As recommended here http://docs.python-guide.org/en/latest/starting/installation/ it's probably best to use
brew install python --framework
to compile a Framework-style Python build, rather than a UNIX-style build.

Nice finding, just updating - thanks!

PS: I'll need to check their recommendation to install pip through brew
brew install pip

Good idea! I just checked it, brew doesn't have that formula anymore, so I did it via Distribute:

$ curl -O http://python-distribute.org/distribute_setup.py
$ python distribute_setup.py
$ easy_install pip

This was helpful for me today...thanks!

I'm glad to hear it!

Saved much time today! Thanks!

updated to capture 10.8 and homebrew changes

Updated from .bash_login to .bash_profile to avoid common issues

A quote from man bash:
"When bash is invoked as an interactive login shell, or as a non-interactive shell with the --login option, it first reads and executes commands from the file /etc/profile, if that file exists. After reading that file, it looks for ~/.bash_profile, ~/.bash_login, and ~/.profile, in that order, and reads and executes commands from the first one that exists and is readable."

On OSX 10.11 I prefer to keep brew outside of /usr/local as it interferes with newly introduced OSX filesystem protection.
I typically just clone homebrew to /brew

thanks for this!

nitpick: in the note: "Updated from .bash_login to .bash_profile to avoid common issues"
it seems that you may have forgotten to update line 23, so the start and end markers are consistent.