Bugfix/ python3.12 compatibility issue (#1498)

* Python 3.12 compatibility fix

* Apply pre-commit fixes (ruff and ruff-format)

* Add Troubleshooting to README explaining the feature/fix

* Add Troubleshooting to README.md explaining the feature/fix

* Update README.md

* Update README.md

---------

Co-authored-by: Dhanshree Arora <DhanshreeA@users.noreply.github.com>

README.md

@@ -97,6 +97,10 @@ ersilia delete eos4e40
 
 Please see the [Ersilia Book](https://ersilia.gitbook.io/ersilia-book/) for more examples and detailed explanations.
 
+For Python versions 3.12, Ersilia explicitly installs the setuptools library during installation. This is due to a compatibility issue in Python 3.12, which is described in python/cpython#95299.
+
+Note: If you are using Python 3.12, you don’t need to take any manual action. The Ersilia CLI automatically handles this by installing setuptools as part of the setup process.
+
 ## Contribute
 
 The Ersilia Model Hub is a Free, Open Source Software and we highly value new contributors. There are several ways in which you can contribute to the project:

ersilia/hub/fetch/fetch.py

@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import importlib
 import json
 import os
+import sys
 from collections import namedtuple
 
 from ... import ErsiliaBase
@@ -15,7 +16,7 @@
     StandardModelExampleError,
 )
 from ...utils.exceptions_utils.throw_ersilia_exception import throw_ersilia_exception
-from ...utils.terminal import yes_no_input
+from ...utils.terminal import run_command, yes_no_input
 from . import STATUS_FILE
 from .lazy_fetchers.dockerhub import ModelDockerHubFetcher
 from .lazy_fetchers.hosted import ModelHostedFetcher
@@ -93,6 +94,24 @@ def __init__(
         ErsiliaBase.__init__(
             self, config_json=config_json, credentials_json=credentials_json
         )
+
+        # Python 3.12 Compatibility Check and Setuptools Handling
+        if sys.version_info >= (3, 12):
+            self.logger.info("Detected Python 3.12. Verifying setuptools...")
+            try:
+                importlib.import_module("setuptools")
+                self.logger.info("Setuptools is already installed.")
+            except ImportError:
+                self.logger.warning("Setuptools is not installed. Installing now...")
+                try:
+                    run_command("python -m pip install setuptools")
+                    self.logger.info("Setuptools installed successfully.")
+                except Exception as e:
+                    self.logger.error(f"Failed to install setuptools: {str(e)}")
+                    raise RuntimeError(
+                        "Setuptools is required but could not be installed. Please resolve this manually."
+                    )
+
         self.ji = JsonModelsInterface(config_json=self.config_json)
         self.overwrite = overwrite
         self.mode = mode