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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
Terminal window
 
curl https://pyenv.run | bash
git clone https://github.com/pyenv/pyenv-virtualenv.git $(pyenv root)/plugins/pyenv-virtualenv
  1. Add environment variables to your startup files. This is for zsh.
Terminal window
 
echo 'export PYENV_ROOT="$HOME/.pyenv"' >> ~/.zshrc
echo '[[ -d $PYENV_ROOT/bin ]] && export PATH="$PYENV_ROOT/bin:$PATH"' >> ~/.zshrc
echo 'eval "$(pyenv init -)"' >> ~/.zshrc
  1. Install a Python version you care about
Terminal window
 
pyenv 3.11
  1. Create a virtual environment
Terminal window
 
pyenv virtualenv 3.11 myenv
  1. Activate the virtual environment and set it to always run from this folder
Terminal window
 
mkdir my-python-project
pyenv local myenv

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