# Python/Virtual environment

< Python

virtualenv is a tool used to create an isolated workspace for a Python application. It has various advantages such as the ability to install modules locally, export a working environment, and execute a Python program in that environment.

## Overview

A virtual environment is a directory into which some binaries and shell scripts are installed. The binaries include python for executing scripts and pip for installing other modules within the environment. There are also shell scripts (one for bash, csh, and fish) to activate the environment. Essentially, a virtual environment mimics a full system install of Python and all of the desired modules without interfering with any system on which the application might run.

## Installation

Python 3.3+ comes with a tool called pyvenv and an API called venv for extending the native implementation. For applications that require an older version of Python, virtualenv must be used.

### Packages

Install one of these packages from the official repositories to use a Python virtual environment.

- Python 3.3+: python
- Python 3: python-virtualenv
- Python 2: python2-virtualenv

## Usage

All three tools use a similar workflow.

### Creation

Use pyvenv or virtualenv to create the virtual environment within your project directory. Be sure to exclude the venv directory from version control--a copy of `pip freeze` will be enough to rebuild it.

#### pyvenv

This tool is provided by python (3.3+).

    $ pyvenv venv

#### virtualenv

Use virtualenv for Python 3, available in python-virtualenv.

    $ virtualenv venv

And virtualenv2 for Python 2, available in python2-virtualenv.

    $ virtualenv2 venv

### Activation

Use one of the provided shell scripts to activate and deactivate the environment. This example assumes bash is used.

    $ source venv/bin/activate
    (venv) $

Once inside the virtual environment, modules can be installed with pip and scripts can be run as normal.

To exit the virtual environment, run the function provided by `bin/activate`:

    (venv) $ deactivate

## Python versions

The binary versions depend on which virtual environment tool was used. For instance, the python command used in the Python 2 example points to `bin/python2.7`, while the one in the pyvenv example points to `bin/python3.5`.

One major difference between pyvenv and virtualenv is that the former uses the system's Python binary by default:

    $ ls -l pyvenv/bin/python3.5
    lrwxrwxrwx 1 foo foo 7 Jun  3 19:57 pyvenv/bin/python3.5 -> /usr/bin/python3

The virtualenv tool uses a separate Python binary in the environment directory:

    $ ls -l venv3/bin/python3.5
    lrwxrwxrwx 1 foo foo 7 Jun  3 19:58 venv3/bin/python3.5 -> python3

## virtualenvwrapper

virtualenvwrapper allows more natural command line interaction with your virtual environemnts by exposing several useful commands to create, activate and remove virtual environments. This package is a wrapper for both python-virtualenv and python2-virtualenv.

### Installation

Install the python-virtualenvwrapper package from the official repositories.

Now add the following lines to your `~/.bashrc`:

    $ export WORKON_HOME=~/.virtualenvs
    $ source /usr/bin/virtualenvwrapper.sh

Since python3 is a system-wide default in Arch, in order to be able to create python2 environments, you need to set `VIRTUALENVWRAPPER_PYTHON` and `VIRTUALENVWRAPPER_VIRTUALENV` prior to sourcing `virtualenvwrapper.sh` in your `~/.bashrc`:

    export VIRTUALENVWRAPPER_PYTHON=/usr/bin/python2.7
    export VIRTUALENVWRAPPER_VIRTUALENV=/usr/bin/virtualenv2

If you are not using python3 by default (check the output of `python --version`) you need to add the following line to your `~/.bashrc` prior sourcing the `virtualenvwrapper.sh` script.

    export VIRTUALENVWRAPPER_PYTHON=/usr/bin/python3

Re-open your console and create the `WORKON_HOME` folder:

    $ mkdir $WORKON_HOME

### Basic usage

The main information source on virtualenvwrapper usage (and extension capability) is Doug Hellmann's page.

Create the virtual environment:

    $ mkvirtualenv -p /usr/bin/python2.7 my_env

Activate the virtual environment:

    $ workon my_env

Install some package inside the virtual environment (say, Django):

    (my_env) $ pip install django

After you have done your things, leave the virtual environment:

    (my_env) $ deactivate

## See also

- Python venv (pyvenv)
- virtualenv Pypi page
- Tutorial for virtualenv
- virtualenvwrapper page at Doug Hellmann's

Category:

- Development