Managing Python Virtual Environments

Python offers a virtual environment module which lets us install project based requirements instead of maintain all requirements in a global scope.

Although its common for developers to utilise wrapper scripts such as virtualenvwrapper to manage venvs in a global location rather than in the project scope.

Usage - Native venv

The python module comes as part of the standard library. Its standard practise to create virtual environments in a venv subfolder. This is often ignored from VCS and should not be committed as its unique to the individual system.

Create a new environment

python -m venv venv # Create a new virtual environment, if a 'venv' subfolder

Enable the environment

source venv/bin/activate

Disable the environment

deactivate

Usage - virtualenvwrapper

virtualenvwrapper helps manage multiple virtual environments within a global level rather than scattering venv directories across all your projects source code.

Create a environment

mkvirtualenv myproject

Enable the environment

workon myproject

Deactivate the environment

deactivate

List environments

lsvirtualenv

Delete environment

rmvirtualenv myproject