2023-12-30: Virtual Environment

Virtual env

Creating a virtual environment in a specific folder allows you to isolate the dependencies of a project from the system-wide Python installation. Here’s a general guide on how to create a virtual environment in a folder:

Using venv

(built-in module in Python 3.3 and later):

1. Navigate to the desired folder:

   cd path/to/your/project/folder
   

2. Create a virtual environment:

   python -m venv venv
   

   This command will create a virtual environment named venv in the current directory.

3. Activate the virtual environment:

   • On Windows:

     .\venv\Scripts\activate
     

   • On Unix or MacOS:

     source venv/bin/activate
     

   After activation, your command prompt or terminal prompt should change to indicate that you are now working within the virtual environment.

4. Install dependencies: Once the virtual environment is activated, you can use pip to install the required packages for your project:

   pip install package_name
   

5. Deactivate the virtual environment:

   deactivate
   

   This command will return you to the global Python environment.

Using virtualenv:

If you are using an older version of Python or prefer to use virtualenv, you can follow these steps:

1. Install virtualenv (if not already installed):

   pip install virtualenv
   

2. Navigate to the desired folder:

   cd path/to/your/project/folder
   

3. Create a virtual environment:

   virtualenv venv
   

4. Activate the virtual environment:

   • On Windows:

     .\venv\Scripts\activate
     

   • On Unix or MacOS:

     source venv/bin/activate
     

5. Install dependencies: Once the virtual environment is activated, you can use pip to install the required packages for your project:

   pip install package_name
   

6. Deactivate the virtual environment:

   deactivate
   

Choose the method that best suits your needs or the one you are more comfortable with. Virtual environments are an excellent practice to keep project dependencies isolated and manageable.