Purfe

Learn, create and have fun with Python

virtualenv and venv: Comparison and Step-by-Step Guide for Virtual Environments in Python

Jump to:




venv VS virtualenv

There are two commonly used libraries that can be used to create virtual environments in Python:

  1. virtualenv: a popular third-party package that provides a way to create isolated Python environments.
  2. venv: a module in the Python standard library that provides similar functionality to virtualenv, but is included with Python 3.3 and later versions.

Both of these libraries can be used to create virtual environments for Python projects, and they provide similar functionality. The choice between them typically depends on your specific needs and preferences.

Feature venv virtualenv
Included with Python Yes (3.3+) No, requires separate installation
Python version supported Only Python 3 Python 2 and Python 3
Customization options Fewer options More options
Environment customization Simple More complex
Compatibility with PyPI Excellent (using pip) Excellent (using pip)
Size of virtual environments Generally faster and more lightweight Larger
Upsides
  • Bundled with Python
  • Easy to use and understand
  • Integrated with Python standard library
  • More mature and stable
  • Supports multiple versions of Python
  • Offers more configuration options, such as choosing a specific Python interpreter or creating environments that are compatible with different versions of Python
Downsides
  • Limited to Python 3.x
  • Cannot create virtual environments for other Python versions
  • Less configuration options
  • Requires additional installation
  • Less frequently updated
  • Less intuitive to use with system Python

venv Step-by-Step Guide

  1. Open your terminal or command prompt.
  2. Create a new directory for your project: mkdir my_project
  3. Navigate to the directory: cd my_project
  4. venv is part of Python Standard Library, so if you have Python, you already have venv on your machine
  5. Create a new virtual environment for your project by typing python3 -m venv env and pressing Enter. This will create a new directory called “env” in your project directory.
  6. Activate the virtual environment:
    • On Windows: .\env\Scripts\activate
    • On Linux/Mac: source env/bin/activate
  7. You should see the name of your virtual environment in your terminal prompt now.
  8. Install the necessary packages for your project using pip, for example: pip install numpy
  9. When you’re done working on your project, deactivate the virtual environment by typing deactivate and pressing Enter.

The (myenv) prefix should disappear from your terminal prompt, indicating that you have returned to the global Python environment.

virtualenv Step-by-step guide

Step-by-step guide to setting up a virtual environment for Python project:

  1. Open your terminal or command prompt.
  2. Create a new directory for your project: mkdir my_project
  3. Navigate to the directory: cd my_project
  4. You can check if virtualenv is installed on your machine by running: virtualenv --version
    • This will display the version of virtualenv if it is installed, or an error message
    • If you see an error message, you can install virtualenv using pip: pip install virtualenv
  5. Create a new virtual environment for your project: virtualenv env and pressing Enter. This will create a new directory called “env” in your project directory.
  6. Activate the virtual environment:
    • On Windows: .\env\Scripts\activate
    • On Linux/Mac: source env/bin/activate
  7. You should see the name of your virtual environment in your terminal prompt now.
  8. Install the necessary packages for your project using pip, for example: pip install numpy
  9. When you’re done working on your project, deactivate the virtual environment: deactivate

That’s it! Your project dependencies will be isolated from the global Python environment, and you can easily switch between different virtual environments for different projects.

Isolate your environment



Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Back to top