prefix option in install.py not needed

python/install.py

@@ -23,11 +23,8 @@ parser.add_argument("-l", "--lib", required=True,
 parser.add_argument("-v", "--version", required=True,
                     help="path to the LAMMPS version.h header file")
 
-pgroup = parser.add_mutually_exclusive_group()
-pgroup.add_argument("-d","--dir",
-                    help="Legacy custom installation folder for module and library")
-pgroup.add_argument("-p","--prefix",
-                    help="Installation prefix for module and library")
+parser.add_argument("-d","--dir",
+                    help="Legacy custom installation folder selection for module and library")
 
 args = parser.parse_args()
 
@@ -65,14 +62,6 @@ if args.dir:
   else:
     args.dir = os.path.abspath(args.dir)
 
-if args.prefix:
-  if not os.path.isdir(args.prefix):
-    print( "ERROR: Installation prefix folder %s does not exist" % args.prefix)
-    parser.print_help()
-    sys.exit(1)
-  else:
-    args.prefix = os.path.abspath(args.prefix)
-
 # if a custom directory is given, we copy the files directly
 # without any special processing or additional steps to that folder
 
@@ -108,10 +97,7 @@ import site
 tryuser=False
 
 try:
-  if args.prefix:
-    sys.argv = ["setup.py","install","--prefix=%s" % args.prefix]    # as if had run "python setup.py install --prefix=XXX"
-  else:
-    sys.argv = ["setup.py","install"]    # as if had run "python setup.py install"
+  sys.argv = ["setup.py","install"]    # as if had run "python setup.py install"
   setup(name = "lammps",
         version = verstr,
         author = "Steve Plimpton",
@@ -120,7 +106,7 @@ try:
         description = "LAMMPS Molecular Dynamics Python module",
         license = "GPL",
         py_modules = ["lammps"],
-        data_files = [(get_python_lib(prefix=args.prefix), [args.lib])])
+        data_files = [(get_python_lib(), [args.lib])])
 except:
   tryuser=True
   print ("Installation into global site-packages folder failed.\nTrying user folder %s now." % site.USER_SITE)