Upgrade python packages with pip: use "sudo" or "--user"?
Solution 1:
To me the only difference is the scheme path.
Using sudo your package will be installed in:
/usr/local/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/
With --user they are installed in your $HOME directory in:
$HOME/.local/lib/python2.7/site-packages
For your own system, I'd say it does not really matter. Use --user if you're not a sudoer member.
For code you publish, avoid --user.