Virtual Environments in Python

A Python virtual environment is a tool to isolate specific Python environments on a single machine, allowing for separate dependencies and packages for different projects. This is useful in cases where you need to work on multiple projects with conflicting package requirements or where you want to test code in an environment isolated from your main installation.

There are several tools available for creating and managing Python virtual environments, including venv, virtualenv, pipenv, and conda. This blog will explore these tools and provide examples of how to use them on both Windows and Mac systems.

Creating a Python Virtual Environment with venv

venv is a built-in module in Python 3.3 and above for virtual environments. It is the recommended tool for creating virtual environments in the Python documentation.

To create a virtual environment with venv, open a terminal or command prompt and navigate to the desired directory where you want to create the environment. Then, use the python -m venv command followed by the name you want to give to your environment. For example:

python -m venv myenv

This will create a directory called myenv in the current directory, containing a copy of the Python executable and the necessary files for a basic Python installation.

To activate the virtual environment on Windows, navigate to the Scripts directory within the environment and use the activate.bat script:

cd myenv\Scripts
activate.bat

On Mac or Linux systems, use the activate script:

cd myenv/bin
source activate

To deactivate the virtual environment, use the deactivate command:

deactivate

Creating a Python Virtual Environment with virtualenv

virtualenv is a third-party Python package that provides support for creating multiple isolated Python environments. It is compatible with Python 2.7 and above and can be installed using pip.

To install virtualenv, open a terminal or command prompt and use the pip install command:

pip install virtualenv

To create a virtual environment with virtualenv, navigate to the desired directory and use the virtualenv command followed by the name you want to give to your environment. For example:

virtualenv myenv

This will create a directory called myenv in the current directory, containing a copy of the Python executable and the necessary files for a basic Python installation.

To activate the virtual environment on Windows, navigate to the Scripts directory within the environment and use the activate.bat script:

cd myenv\Scripts
activate.bat

On Mac or Linux systems, use the activate script:

cd myenv/bin
source activate

To deactivate the virtual environment, use the deactivate command:

deactivate

Listing Packages in a Python Virtual Environment

To list the packages installed in a Python virtual environment, you can use the pip freeze command. This will display a list of all the package names and their versions, as well as the version of pip and the Python interpreter being used.

To use pip freeze, activate the virtual environment, and then run the command:

pip freeze

Introduction to pipenv

pipenv is a tool that combines pip and virtualenv into a single command-line tool. It is designed to manage Python packages and virtual environments in a more user-friendly way, making it easier to manage dependencies and keep track of which packages are installed in each environment.

To install pipenv, open a terminal or command prompt and use the pip install command:

pip install pipenv

To create a virtual environment and install packages using pipenv, navigate to the desired directory and use the pipenv install command followed by the package name. For example:

pipenv install numpy

This will create a virtual environment in the current directory and install the numpy package. The virtual environment and installed packages are tracked in a Pipfile and Pipfile.lock file, which are used to manage dependencies and ensure that the same packages are installed in the environment every time it is created.

To activate the virtual environment, use the pipenv shell command:

pipenv shell

To deactivate the virtual environment, use the exit command:

exit

Introduction to conda

conda is a package and environment manager for Python and other languages, such as R, C++, and Fortran. It is commonly used in scientific computing and data analysis and is included in the Anaconda distribution of Python.

To create a virtual environment with conda, open a terminal or command prompt and use the conda create command followed by the name you want to give to your environment and the packages you want to install. For example:

conda create -n myenv numpy pandas

This will create a virtual environment called myenv and install the numpy and pandas packages.

To activate the virtual environment, use the conda activate command:

conda activate myenv

To deactivate the virtual environment, use the conda deactivate command:

conda deactivate

Comparison of venv, virtualenv, pipenv, and conda

Tool	Description	Compatibility	Package Management
venv	Built-in module for creating virtual environments in Python 3.3 and above.	Python 3.3 and above	pip
virtualenv	Third-party package for creating isolated Python environments.	Python 2.7 and above	pip
pipenv	A tool that combines pip and virtualenv into a single command-line tool. Designed to make package and environment management more user-friendly.	Python 2.7 and above	pip
conda	Package and environment manager for Python and other languages, such as R, C++, and Fortran. Commonly used in scientific computing and data analysis. Included in the Anaconda distribution of Python.	Python and other languages	conda

In summary, the main differences between these tools are as follows:

• venv is a built-in module in Python 3.3 and above for creating virtual environments. It is the recommended tool for creating virtual environments in the Python documentation.
• virtualenv is a third-party Python package that provides support for creating multiple isolated Python environments. It
• is compatible with Python 2.7 and above and can be installed using pip.
• pipenv is a tool that combines pip and virtualenv into a single command-line tool. It is designed to manage Python packages and virtual environments in a more user-friendly way, making it easier to manage dependencies and keep track of which packages are installed in each environment.
• conda is a package and environment manager for Python and other languages, such as R, C++, and Fortran. It is commonly used in scientific computing and data analysis and is included in the Anaconda distribution of Python.

In terms of which tool to use, it ultimately depends on your needs and preferences. venv is the recommended tool for creating virtual environments in Python documentation, and it is a good choice if you are working with Python 3.3 or above. virtualenv is a good choice if you are working with an older version of Python or prefer a third-party package. pipenv is a good choice if you want a more user-friendly tool for managing packages and virtual environments. conda is a good choice if you are working with other languages besides Python or if you are working in a scientific computing or data analysis setting.

Activating a Virtual Environment on Windows

To activate a virtual environment on Windows, navigate to the Scripts directory within the environment and use the activate.bat script:

cd myenv\Scripts
activate.bat

This will change the prompt to indicate that the virtual environment is active and any packages installed in the environment will be available.

To deactivate the virtual environment, use the deactivate command:

deactivate

Frequently asked questions