--- title: "Python Virtual Environments Cheatsheet" lang: "en" author: "Mohammad Abu Mattar" canonical: https://mkabumattar.com/python-venv --- [Home](/)›[Cheatsheets](/cheatsheets) Cheatsheets # Python Virtual Environments Cheatsheet A practical reference for venv, pip, requirements files, pyenv version switching, and pipx for isolated global tools. 5 Categories10 Sections21 ExamplesPublished: 17 Aug 2026Updated: 17 Aug 2026 Pythonvirtualenvpippyenvdependenciesrequirements.txtpip-toolspipx [Markdown for AI(opens in a new tab)](/python-venv/index.md "Open the plain-Markdown version of this page, for pasting into an AI tool") Series [Developer Environment & Tooling](/series/developer-environment--tooling)6/6 [PreviousVS Code](/cheatsheets/vscode) All posts in this series (6) Cheatsheets6 1. [Git](/cheatsheets/git) 2. [Screen](/cheatsheets/screen) 3. [Tmux](/cheatsheets/tmux) 4. [Vim](/cheatsheets/vim) 5. [VS Code](/cheatsheets/vscode) 6. [Python Virtual Environments CheatsheetYou are here](/cheatsheets/python-venv) A fast reference for keeping Python projects isolated and reproducible. It covers creating and activating environments with venv, installing packages with pip, locking dependencies with requirements files and pip-tools, switching interpreter versions with pyenv, and installing global CLI tools cleanly with pipx. [Creating and Activating Environments](#category-virtualenvs) - [Create a virtual environment](#section-create-venv) - [Activate and deactivate](#section-activate-venv) - [Remove an environment](#section-remove-venv) [Installing Packages with pip](#category-pip) - [Install packages](#section-pip-install) - [Inspect installed packages](#section-pip-inspect) [Managing Dependencies](#category-dependencies) - [requirements.txt](#section-requirements) - [Deterministic installs with pip-tools](#section-pip-tools) [Switching Python Versions with pyenv](#category-pyenv) - [Install and select versions](#section-pyenv-install) - [pyenv-virtualenv](#section-pyenv-virtualenv) [Global CLI Tools with pipx](#category-pipx) - [Install and run tools](#section-pipx-install) No commands found Try adjusting your search term ## Creating and Activating Environments Make an isolated environment per project so dependencies never collide. ### Create a virtual environment Use the built-in venv module to create an isolated environment in a project folder. #### Keywords venvcreatevirtualenv #### Create an environment named .venv Creates a self-contained Python environment in the .venv folder, with its own interpreter and site-packages. Code Terminal window ``` python -m venv .venv ``` - Name it .venv by convention so editors and tools auto-detect it. - Add .venv/ to your .gitignore; never commit an environment. #### Create with a specific interpreter Uses whichever Python you invoke as the base for the environment, which is how you pin the version. Code Terminal window ``` python3.12 -m venv .venv ``` ### Activate and deactivate Activating puts the environment's interpreter and pip first on your PATH. #### Best Practices - Confirm activation with \`which python\` (it should point inside .venv). - You do not have to activate: \`.venv/bin/python script.py\` works directly, which is handy in scripts and CI. #### Keywords activatedeactivatesource #### Activate on macOS or Linux Your prompt gains a (.venv) prefix and python/pip now point inside the environment. Code Terminal window ``` source .venv/bin/activate ``` #### Activate on Windows PowerShell activation. Use .venv\\Scripts\\activate.bat from cmd.exe instead. Code Terminal window ``` 1.venv\Scripts\Activate.ps1 ``` #### Deactivate Restores your original PATH. Works from any shell where the environment is active. Code Terminal window ``` deactivate ``` ### Remove an environment Environments are disposable; delete and recreate rather than repairing. #### Delete the environment There is no uninstall command. The environment is just a folder, so removing it is the reset. Code Terminal window ``` rm -rf .venv ``` ## Installing Packages with pip Install, upgrade, and inspect packages inside the active environment. ### Install packages pip installs into whichever environment is currently active. #### Common Errors - **pip installs globally instead of into the environment:** You forgot to activate. Check \`which pip\`, then re-run after activating .venv. #### Keywords pipinstallupgrade #### Install a package Code Terminal window ``` pip install requests ``` #### Install a specific version Quote version specifiers so the shell does not interpret the characters. Code Terminal window ``` pip install 'django==5.0.*' ``` #### Editable install of a local project Links your source in place so code changes take effect without reinstalling. This is the usual setup while developing a package. Code Terminal window ``` pip install -e . ``` ### Inspect installed packages See what is installed and whether anything is outdated. #### List installed packages Code Terminal window ``` pip list ``` #### Show outdated packages Code Terminal window ``` pip list --outdated ``` ## Managing Dependencies Capture and restore your dependency set so environments are reproducible. ### requirements.txt Freeze the current environment and restore it elsewhere. #### Best Practices - pip freeze captures everything, including transitive dependencies, which makes it noisy. Keep your true top-level deps in a separate file. #### Keywords requirements.txtfreezereproducible #### Freeze current dependencies Writes every installed package and its exact version so others can reproduce the environment. Code Terminal window ``` pip freeze > requirements.txt ``` #### Install from requirements.txt Code Terminal window ``` pip install -r requirements.txt ``` ### Deterministic installs with pip-tools Separate the packages you ask for from the fully pinned set you install. #### Advanced Notes - **Why pip-compile over plain freeze:** requirements.in records intent (the packages you actually want), while the compiled output records the exact resolved graph. Editing intent and recompiling is far cleaner than hand-editing a frozen dump. #### Keywords pip-toolspip-compilelockfile #### Compile a locked requirements file Produces a fully pinned requirements.txt (including transitive deps and hashes) from your short requirements.in. Code Terminal window ``` # list only top-level deps in requirements.in, then:pip-compile requirements.in ``` #### Sync the environment to the lockfile Installs exactly what the lockfile says and removes anything that is not in it, so the environment matches the lock precisely. Code Terminal window ``` pip-sync requirements.txt ``` ## Switching Python Versions with pyenv Install and switch between multiple Python versions per machine or per project. ### Install and select versions pyenv manages the Python interpreter itself, independently of your OS Python. #### Keywords pyenvversionsgloballocal #### Install a Python version Code Terminal window ``` pyenv install 3.12.4 ``` #### Set the global default Code Terminal window ``` pyenv global 3.12.4 ``` #### Pin a version for one project Writes a .python-version file so this directory always uses that interpreter. Code Terminal window ``` pyenv local 3.11.9 ``` ### pyenv-virtualenv Combine a pyenv-managed version with a named virtual environment. #### Create a named environment on a chosen version Creates a virtual environment tied to a specific pyenv Python, which you can then activate by name or auto-activate with pyenv local. Code Terminal window ``` pyenv virtualenv 3.12.4 myproject-3.12 ``` ## Global CLI Tools with pipx Install Python command-line tools globally without polluting any project environment. ### Install and run tools pipx gives each tool its own hidden environment while exposing its command on your PATH. #### Best Practices - Use pipx for tools (black, ruff, httpie, poetry), and venv for project libraries. Never pip install CLI tools into your system Python. #### Keywords pipxglobalisolation #### Install a CLI tool Installs ruff in its own isolated environment but makes the ruff command available everywhere. Code Terminal window ``` pipx install ruff ``` #### Run a tool once without installing Downloads into a temporary environment, runs the command, and cleans up. Handy for a tool you need once. Code Terminal window ``` pipx run cowsay moo ``` Was this useful? ## Tags #Python#Virtualenv#Pip#Pyenv#Dependencies#Requirements.txt#Pip tools#Pipx ## Share [Facebook](https://facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fmkabumattar.com%2Fcheatsheets%2Fpython-venv "Share on Facebook")[Twitter](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet/?text=Python%20Virtual%20Environments%20Cheatsheet&url=https%3A%2F%2Fmkabumattar.com%2Fcheatsheets%2Fpython-venv "Share on Twitter")[LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https%3A%2F%2Fmkabumattar.com%2Fcheatsheets%2Fpython-venv&title=Python%20Virtual%20Environments%20Cheatsheet&summary=A%20practical%20reference%20for%20venv%2C%20pip%2C%20requirements%20files%2C%20pyenv%20version%20switching%2C%20and%20pipx%20for%20isolated%20global%20tools.&source=https://mkabumattar.com "Share on LinkedIn")[WhatsApp](https://wa.me/?text=Python%20Virtual%20Environments%20Cheatsheet%20https%3A%2F%2Fmkabumattar.com%2Fcheatsheets%2Fpython-venv "Share on WhatsApp")[Telegram](https://t.me/share/url?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmkabumattar.com%2Fcheatsheets%2Fpython-venv&text=Python%20Virtual%20Environments%20Cheatsheet "Share on Telegram")[Reddit](https://www.reddit.com/submit?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmkabumattar.com%2Fcheatsheets%2Fpython-venv&title=Python%20Virtual%20Environments%20Cheatsheet "Share on Reddit")[Hacker News](http://news.ycombinator.com/submitlink?u=https%3A%2F%2Fmkabumattar.com%2Fcheatsheets%2Fpython-venv&t=Python%20Virtual%20Environments%20Cheatsheet "Share on Hacker News")[Pinterest](https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmkabumattar.com%2Fcheatsheets%2Fpython-venv&media=&description=A%20practical%20reference%20for%20venv%2C%20pip%2C%20requirements%20files%2C%20pyenv%20version%20switching%2C%20and%20pipx%20for%20isolated%20global%20tools. 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