# ModuleNotFoundError: No module named 'setuptools'

- **ID:** `python/setuptools-no-module-named-setuptools`
- **Domain:** python
- **Category:** module_error
- **Verification:** ai_generated
- **Fix Rate:** 80%

## Root Cause

setuptools is not installed in the current Python environment.

## Version Compatibility

| Version | Status | Introduced | Deprecated |
|---------|--------|------------|------------|
| 3.8 | active | — | — |
| 3.9 | active | — | — |

## Workarounds

1. **Install setuptools via ensurepip** (90% success)
   ```
   python -m ensurepip --upgrade
   ```
2. **Install from source** (80% success)
   ```
   curl -O https://bootstrap.pypa.io/ez_setup.py && python ez_setup.py
   ```

## Dead Ends

- **Installing setuptools with pip** — May fail if pip is also missing. (30% fail)
- **Using easy_install** — Deprecated and may not work. (50% fail)