# ModuleNotFoundError: No module named 'setuptools'

- **ID:** `python/setuptools-module-not-found`
- **Domain:** python
- **Category:** module_error
- **Verification:** ai_generated
- **Fix Rate:** 80%

## Root Cause

setuptools is not installed in the current Python environment, often in fresh virtualenvs or minimal Docker images.

## Version Compatibility

| Version | Status | Introduced | Deprecated |
|---------|--------|------------|------------|
| 3.8 | active | — | — |
| 3.9 | active | — | — |
| 3.10 | active | — | — |
| 3.11 | active | — | — |
| 3.12 | active | — | — |

## Workarounds

1. **** (98% success)
   ```
   Install setuptools: `pip install setuptools`.
   ```
2. **** (90% success)
   ```
   For Python 3.12+, use `python -m ensurepip --upgrade` to bootstrap pip and setuptools.
   ```

## Dead Ends

- **** — Overkill; setuptools is a separate package. (95% fail)
- **** — Does not install setuptools. (90% fail)