Python Virtual Environments

Create python environments for specific app/tooling needs. Used commonly to prevent scripts/apps from munging systemwide Python installation.

Creating Environment

See python pip and virtual environment for reference material.

Install pip and virtual environment packages.

apt install python3-pip python3-venv

Create a virtual environment.

test -d {ENV DIR} || python3 -m venv {ENV DIR}

Note

All other virtual environment commands are deprecated now.

Update ~/.bashrc to require virtual environments for pip.

export PIP_REQUIRE_VIRTUALENV=true

Using Virtual Environments

Activate virtual environment for use.

. {ENV DIR}/bin/activate

Deactivate the environment to return the normal system environment.

deactivate

Export/Import Environments

Environments may be exported for easy configuration with services and scripts.

Export current environment.

. {ENV DIR}/bin/activate
python3 -m pip freeze > {ENV CONFIG}

Install a specific environment.

. {ENV DIR}/bin/activate
python3 -m pip install --requirement {ENV CONFIG}

Updating Environments

Update environment and re-export.

Update environment.

. {ENV DIR}/bin/activate
python3 -m pip install --upgrade --requirement {ENV CONFIG}
python3 -m pip freeze > {ENV CONFIG}

References