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Table of Contents

  • How Can You Work With a Python Virtual Environment?
    • Create It
    • Activate It
    • Install Packages Into It
    • Deactivate It
  • How Do You Enable a Venv in Your IDE?
    • Create and Activate a Virtual Environment in VS Code
    • Create and Activate a Virtual Environment in PyCharm
  • Why Do You Need Virtual Environments?
    • Avoid System Pollution
    • Sidestep Dependency Conflicts
    • Minimize Reproducibility Issues
    • Dodge Installation Privilege Lockouts
  • What Is a Python Virtual Environment?
    • A Folder Structure
    • An Isolated Python Installation
  • How Does a Virtual Environment Work?
    • It Copies Structure and Files
    • It Adapts the Prefix-Finding Process
    • It Links Back to Your Standard Library
    • It Modifies Your PYTHONPATH
    • It Changes Your Shell PATH Variable on Activation
    • It Runs From Anywhere With Absolute Paths
  • How Can You Customize a Virtual Environment?
    • Change the Command Prompt
    • Overwrite Existing Environments
    • Create Multiple Virtual Environments at Once
    • Update the Core Dependencies
    • Avoid Installing pip
    • Include the System Site-Packages
    • Copy or Link Your Executables
    • Upgrade Your Python to Match the System Python
  • What Other Popular Options Exist, Aside From venv?
    • The Virtualenv Project
    • The Conda Package and Environment Manager
  • How Can You Manage Your Virtual Environments?
    • Decide Where to Create Your Environment Folders
    • Treat Them as Disposables
    • Pin Your Dependencies
    • Avoid Virtual Environments in Production
    • Use Third-Party Tools
  • Conclusion
  • Frequently Asked Questions

Recommended Video Course
Working With Python Virtual Environments