# ERROR: unknown option --no-cache-dir

- **ID:** `python/pip-no-cache-dir-option`
- **Domain:** python
- **Category:** install_error
- **Verification:** ai_generated
- **Fix Rate:** 80%

## Root Cause

The pip version is too old to support the --no-cache-dir option.

## Version Compatibility

| Version | Status | Introduced | Deprecated |
|---------|--------|------------|------------|
| 3.6 | active | — | — |
| 3.7 | active | — | — |

## Workarounds

1. **Upgrade pip** (95% success)
   ```
   python -m pip install --upgrade pip
   ```
2. **Use pip install --no-cache-dir with newer pip** (90% success)
   ```
   After upgrade, use the option
   ```

## Dead Ends

- **Using --no-cache instead** — May not be recognized either. (50% fail)
- **Setting environment variable PIP_NO_CACHE_DIR** — May not be read by old pip. (40% fail)