The shortest guide to working with Python virtual environments

No boilerplate, no fluff, just the essentials. Here’s the correct way to use Python virtual environments. My way. No other way is good. Don’t think about doing it any other way.

1. Install pyenv and pyenv-virtualenv

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curl https://pyenv.run | bash
git clone https://github.com/pyenv/pyenv-virtualenv.git $(pyenv root)/plugins/pyenv-virtualenv
 

2. Add environment variables to your startup files. This is for zsh.

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echo 'export PYENV_ROOT="$HOME/.pyenv"' >> ~/.zshrc
echo '[[ -d $PYENV_ROOT/bin ]] && export PATH="$PYENV_ROOT/bin:$PATH"' >> ~/.zshrc
echo 'eval "$(pyenv init -)"' >> ~/.zshrc
 

3. Install a Python version you care about

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pyenv 3.11
 

4. Create a virtual environment

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pyenv virtualenv 3.11 myenv
 

5. Activate the virtual environment and set it to always run from this folder

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mkdir my-python-project
pyenv local myenv
 

That’s it. Never think about Python environments again.