Python Dependency Virtual Environment Managers

Context

Context

Top-Tier (Most Versatile & Recommended)

uv

Fastest package installer and virtual environment manager.

⬆️ Go to Context

uv Installation

Using pip
```
pip install uv
```

Using exe

powershell -ExecutionPolicy ByPass -c "irm https://astral.sh/uv/install.ps1 | iex"

More installation process can be found in official docs

⬆️ Go to Context

uv Usage

uv venv   # Creates a .venv in the current directory
uv venv my_environment # Creates a venv named my_environment
uv venv --python 3.11.6  # Create venv with a specific Python version
uv pip install requests  # Install a package
uv pip list  # List installed packages
uv run app.py # to run py file

⬆️ Go to Context

More uv Commands

Activate environment
```
.venv\Scripts\activate
```
Sync environment exactly to a requirements file (installs missing, removes extra)
```
uv pip sync requirements.txt
```

Export to requirements.txt

uv export --format requirements-txt --no-hashes --no-annotate > requirements.txt

Adding packages to uv from requirements.txt
```
uv init
uv add -r requirements.txt
```

Upgrade packages

uv lock --upgrade-package requests

or all packages

uv lock --upgrade

Now run uv sync

Initialize a new project (creates pyproject.toml)
```
uv init
```
Add dependencies to pyproject.toml and install/sync them
```
uv add flask requests
```
Add a development dependency
```
uv add --group dev pytest
```
Remove a dependency
```
uv remove requests
```
Create/update the uv.lock file based on pyproject.toml
```
uv lock
```
Install dependencies into the venv based on uv.lock (like uv pip sync)
```
uv sync
```
Display Dependency Tree
```
uv tree
```
Use pip command in uv environment by installing seed packages (one or more of: pip, setuptools, and wheel) into the virtual environment.
```
uv venv --seed
```
ModuleNotFoundError: No module named 'distutils'
pip install setuptools will solve this error

⬆️ Go to Context

Minimal `requirements.txt`

Install pipdeptree
```
uv pip install pipdeptree
```
Run the command to generate indented requirements.txt
```
pipdeptree -f > requirements.txt
```

Package can be excluded

pipdeptree --exclude pip,pipdeptree,setuptools,wheel,build,packaging,pyproject_hooks -f > requirements.txt

Minimal only main package requirements.txt

pipdeptree --warn silence | grep -E "^[a-zA-Z0-9]" | awk '{print $1}' > requirements.txt

or

pipdeptree --warn silence | findstr "^[a-zA-Z]" > requirements.txt

Combined exclude and minimal command

pipdeptree --exclude pip,pipdeptree,setuptools,wheel,build,packaging,pyproject_hooks  --warn silence | grep -E "^[a-zA-Z0-9]" | awk '{print $1}' > requirements.txt

Upgrade package version in requirements.txt using pur
```
pur -r requirements.txt
```

⬆️ Go to Context

poetry

Full-fledged dependency and package manager.

⬆️ Go to Context

poetry Installation

curl -sSL https://install.python-poetry.org | python3 -

Using pip

pip install poetry

⬆️ Go to Context

poetry Usage

Create pyproject.toml
```
poetry init
```
Or create a peotry project
```
poetry new project_name
```
Create virual environment (env will be create in cache directory)
```
poetry install
```
To create virtual environment withing project directory
```
poetry config virtualenvs.in-project true
```
Then
```
poetry install
```
Add a package
```
poetry add requests
```
Remove a package
```
poetry remove flask
```

⬆️ Go to Context

More poetry Commands

Show install packages
```
poetry show
```
Show details of a specific package
```
poetry show flask
```
Update all dependencies
```
poetry update
```
Lock dependencies (generate/update poetry.lock)
```
poetry lock
```
Run command inside the virtual environment
```
poetry run python new.py
```
List all virtual environments
```
poetry env list
```
Check for dependency issues
```
poetry check
```

⬆️ Go to Context

pyenv

Best for managing multiple Python versions and virtual environments.

⬆️ Go to Context

pyenv Installation

Using pip

pip install pyenv-win --target %USERPROFILE%\\.pyenv

If you run into an error with the above command use the following instead (#303):
```
pip install pyenv-win --target %USERPROFILE%\\.pyenv --no-user --upgrade
```
Setup Windows environment variable

Variable Value

PYENV C:\Users\my_pc.pyenv\pyenv-win\

PYENV_HOME C:\Users\my_pc.pyenv\pyenv-win\

PYENV_ROOT C:\Users\my_pc.pyenv\pyenv-win\

And add two more lines to user variable Path

C:\Users\my_pc\.pyenv\pyenv-win\bin
C:\Users\my_pc\.pyenv\pyenv-win\shims

Restart cmd or run RefreshEnv.cmd command provided by Chocolatey

⬆️ Go to Context

pyenv Usage

Get list of available python version
```
pyenv install -l
```
Installing a python version
```
pyenv install 3.10.5
```
Uninstalling a python version
```
pyenv uninstall 3.10.5
```
Set python
```
pyenv global 3.10
```
Select just for current shell session
```
pyenv shell 3.10.5
```
Multiple Python versions at the same time by specifying multiple arguments
```
pyenv global 3.11 3.12
```
pyenv update python version
```
pyenv update
```

⬆️ Go to Context

pipx

Best for installing standalone CLI tools globally in isolated environments.

⬆️ Go to Context

pipx Installation

Installing using pip
```
python -m pip install --user pipx
```

Warning solution

WARNING: The scripts activate-global-python-argcomplete.exe, python-argcomplete-check-easy-install-script.exe and register-python-argcomplete.exe are installed in 'C:\Users\Admin\AppData\Roaming\Python\Python312\Scripts' which is not on PATH.
Consider adding this directory to PATH or, if you prefer to suppress this warning, use --no-warn-script-location.
WARNING: The script userpath.exe is installed in 'C:\Users\Admin\AppData\Roaming\Python\Python312\Scripts' which is not on PATH.
Consider adding this directory to PATH or, if you prefer to suppress this warning, use --no-warn-script-location.
WARNING: The script pipx.exe is installed in 'C:\Users\Admin\AppData\Roaming\Python\Python312\Scripts' which is not on PATH.
Consider adding this directory to PATH or, if you prefer to suppress this warning, use --no-warn-script-location.

Go to mentioned path C:\Users\Admin\AppData\Roaming\Python\Python312\Scripts
Open cmd on that path and run
```
.\pipx.exe ensurepath
```

⬆️ Go to Context

pipx Usage

Installing Package
```
pipx install pycowsay
```
Uninstalling Package
```
pipx uninstall pycowsay
```
Inject a package (when required additional packages)
```
pipx inject ipython matplotlib
```

Injecting multiple packages

pipx inject ipython matplotlib pandas
# or:
pipx inject ipython -r useful-packages.txt

⬆️ Go to Context

CLI tools to try in pipx

Tool	Purpose	Use Case
`httpie`	HTTP client	User-friendly `curl` alternative for APIs
`black`	Code formatter	Opinionated Python formatter (fast + safe)
`ruff`	Linter + Formatter	All-in-one linting (super fast, written in Rust)
`poetry`	Package manager	Modern dependency management + publishing
`pipenv`	Package manager	Dependency locking + venv in one
`cookiecutter`	Project scaffolding	Generate project boilerplates
`rich-cli`	Pretty CLI output	Render JSON, markdown, syntax-highlighted code
`glances`	System monitor	Real-time system resource viewer (cross-platform)
`pgcli`	PostgreSQL client	Auto-complete + syntax highlighting in terminal
`bpython`	Python REPL	Fancy REPL with autocomplete & docs
`ipython`	Advanced REPL	Interactive dev console with magic commands
`howdoi`	Quick answers	Searches StackOverflow from terminal
`doit`	Task runner	Better alternative to Makefiles for Python projects
`pdm`	Next-gen package manager	PEP 582 support (no venv needed)
`xonsh`	Shell + Python	Shell with full Python power
`yt-dlp`	YouTube downloader	Download and convert videos via CLI

⬆️ Go to Context

pixi

It is a fast, multi-language package and environment manager built on top of the Conda ecosystem.

pixi Installation

Run the powershell command

powershell -ExecutionPolicy ByPass -c "irm -useb https://pixi.sh/install.ps1 | iex"

⬆️ Go to Context

pixi Environment Setup on VSCode

I found an issue while working on jupyter notebook with multiple pixi environment, when I tried to select kernel it does not allow to select manually it only allows the auto listed ones, to solve this issue I tried some extension and found a good one that actually work which is Pixi Code by renan-r-santos

It will auto detect the parent virtual environment
To work with multiple environment we can either use the python environment tab and select it from there or create a .vscode folder and inside this folder a file named settings.json and write the following structure to find that specific environment in the jupyter kernel
```
{
  "python-envs.pythonProjects": [
    {
      "path": "Module 32 - Feature Engineering/Day 61 - Handling Missing Data/.pixi",
      "envManager": "ms-python.python:venv",
      "packageManager": "ms-python.python:pip"
    }
  ]
}
```

Note

There are some issue when first time running the cell
getActivatedEnvironmentVariables Error to solve it just restart the kernel and run the cell again
Or use the python environment tab and select the one refers in settings.json it will be more faster

⬆️ Go to Context

pixi Usage

Initial pixi
```
pixi init
```
Create environment
```
pixi install
```

Add package

pixi add 'python>=3.13.0,<3.14' jupyterlab

Add package (when package not available in conda channels --pypi is used)
```
pixi add django --pypi
```

Add packages from requirements.txt

Create a file add_to_pixi.cmd

@echo off
REM -----------------------------
REM Install packages from requirements.txt using Pixi
REM Automatically adds --pypi if default install fails
REM -----------------------------

SETLOCAL ENABLEDELAYEDEXPANSION
SET "FILE=requirements.txt"

FOR /F "usebackq delims=" %%A IN ("%FILE%") DO (
    REM Get package name without version
    FOR /F "tokens=1 delims==" %%B IN ("%%A") DO (
        echo Installing %%B...
        pixi add %%B
        IF !ERRORLEVEL! NEQ 0 (
            echo "Failed to install %%B via default, trying with --pypi..."
            pixi add %%B --pypi
        )
    )
)

echo All packages processed!
pause

Now run add_to_pixi.cmd

Remove package
```
pixi remove django --pypi
```
Remove pixi environment
```
pixi clean
```
List all install packages
```
pixi list
```
Activate environment shell
```
pixi shell
```
Exit environment shell
```
exit
```

Run command

pixi run python --version
pixi run jupyter lab

⬆️ Go to Context

Mid-Tier (Popular & Well-Supported)

pip + venv

Default, lightweight, and comes with Python.

⬆️ Go to Context

pip Installation

It is installed by default with Python >= 3.4
Update pip
```
python -m pip install pip --upgrade
```

⬆️ Go to Context

pip Usage

Installing a package
```
pip install <package-name>
```
Installing specific version
```
pip install <package-name>==<version>
```
Installing from a requirements file
```
pip install -r requirements.txt
```
Saving current packages to a requirements file
```
pip freeze > requirements.txt
```

Updating multiple packages

pip install -r requirements.txt --upgrade

Uninstalling a package
```
pip uninstall <package-name>
```
Listing installed packages
```
pip list
```
Checking outdated packages
```
pip list --outdated
```
Showing info about a package
```
pip show <package-name>
```

⬆️ Go to Context

venv Usage

It is added in 3.3 python
Official docs
Creating a virtual environment
```
py -m venv env
```
here env is the name of the venv also path can be provided here
Activating the virtual environment
```
env\Scripts\activate
```
Deactivating the virtual environment
```
deactivate
```
Deleting a virtual environment
```
rd /s /q env
```
Check all available python
```
py -0
```
Specify alternative Python executable
```
C:\Python312\python.exe -m venv .venv
```
Create venv with different python version (PYLAUNCHER_ALLOW_INSTALL permission required)
```
py -3.12 -m venv .venv
```
Create multiple venv
```
py -m venv env1 env2 env3
```
venv command-line option(flags)
- Upgrade existing venv
```
py -m venv --upgrade .venv
```
- Upgrade pip setuptools
```
py -m venv --upgrade-deps .venv
```
- Without pip
```
py -m venv --without-pip .venv
```
- For advanced usage --copies, --symlinks are used but not recommended on Windows
- Custom prompt name
```
py -m venv --prompt myproject .venv
```
- Clear existing environment
```
py -m venv --clear .venv
```
- Create environment with access to system packages
```
py -m venv --system-site-packages .venv
```

⬆️ Go to Context

Miniforge3 (conda/mamba)

It is a minimal, community-driven Conda distribution that includes both the conda and mamba package managers, with the conda-forge channel set as the default source for packages.

conda

Ideal for data science and scientific computing. It manages packages, environments, and dependencies effectively across platforms.
Since it is included with Miniforge3, there is no need to install it separately. However, if needed, download and install Miniconda (a lightweight Conda distribution) or Anaconda (which includes many pre-installed packages).

conda Usage

Task	Command
Env in miniconda envs path	`conda create -n myenv python=3.11`
Env in current path	`conda create -p myenv python=3.11`
Activate environment	`conda activate myenv`
Deactivate environment	`conda deactivate`
List all environments	`conda env list` or `conda info --envs`
Install package	`conda install numpy`
Install specific version	`conda install pandas=1.5.3`
Remove package	`conda remove package_name`
Update package	`conda update scipy`
Update all package	`conda update --all`
Export environment	`conda env export > environment.yml`
Recreate env from file	`conda env create -f environment.yml`
Delete environment	`conda remove --name myenv --all`

Install packages from requirements.txt

conda install --yes --file requirements.txt

Note

Prefer conda install when available to avoid dependency conflicts.
Use pip install within a conda environment if a package isn't available via conda.

⬆️ Go to Context

mamba

It is a fast, drop-in replacement for conda written in C++
It is included by default in Miniforge versions 23.3.1-0 and above.
All commands are compatible with conda, so simply replacing conda with mamba will work seamlessly.

⬆️ Go to Context

hatch

Modern package and virtual environment manager.

⬆️ Go to Context

hatch Installation

Installer
- Download and install
Using pipx
- pipx install hatch

⬆️ Go to Context

hatch Usage

Create hatch project
```
hatch new hatch-project
```
Create environment
```
hatch env create
```
Activate and use the environment
```
hatch shell
```
Exit from environment
```
exit
```
Remove environment
```
hatch env prune
```
View list of environment
```
hatch env show
```
Project version check
```
hatch version
```

Change project version

hatch version minor # patch, minor, major

⬆️ Go to Context

virtualenv

Alternative to venv with more features.

⬆️ Go to Context

virtualenv Installation

Using pipx
```
pipx install virtualenv
```

⬆️ Go to Context

virtualenv Usage

Creating env
```
virtualenv env
```
Activating env
```
env\Scripts\activate
```
Deactivate env
```
deactivate
```

⬆️ Go to Context

Lower-Tier (Less Commonly Used)

asdf

Universal version manager supporting Python and other languages.

⬆️ Go to Context

virtualenvwrapper

Helper for managing virtualenv environments easily.

⬆️ Go to Context

virtualenvwrapper Installation

Using pipx
```
pipx install virtualenvwrapper-win
```

⬆️ Go to Context

virtualenvwrapper Usage

Purpose	Command
Create & activate a new virtualenv	`mkvirtualenv myenv`
List or activate virtualenvs	`workon myenv`
Delete a virtualenv	`rmvirtualenv myenv`
Go to the directory of the current env	`cdvirtualenv`
Go to `site-packages` of current env	`cdsitepackages`
List packages installed in current env	`lssitepackages`
List all virtualenvs	`lsvirtualenv`
Add folders to `PYTHONPATH` of active env	`add2virtualenv path\to\folder`
Allow/disallow global packages in current env	`toggleglobalsitepackages`
Create a project directory and virtualenv	`mkproject myproject`
Go to the directory of the current project	`cdproject`
Link a project directory to the current virtualenv	`setprojectdir D:\myproject`
Used internally for deletion	`folder_delete D:\Env\myenv`
Locate the current virtualenv's base directory	`whereis`
Lists env variables for the current env	`vwenv`

⬆️ Go to Context

flit

Minimalistic package builder and publisher.

⬆️ Go to Context

flit Installation

Using pipx
```
pipx install flit
```

⬆️ Go to Context

flit Usage

Initial project
```
flit init
```
Publish package to PyPI
```
flit publish
```

⬆️ Go to Context

Name		Name	Last commit message	Last commit date
Latest commit History 35 Commits
conda-env		conda-env
flit-project		flit-project
hatch-project		hatch-project
pixi-project		pixi-project
poetry/demo		poetry/demo
uv		uv
README.md		README.md
requirements.txt		requirements.txt

Variable	Value
PYENV	C:\Users\my_pc.pyenv\pyenv-win\
PYENV_HOME	C:\Users\my_pc.pyenv\pyenv-win\
PYENV_ROOT	C:\Users\my_pc.pyenv\pyenv-win\

Folders and files

Latest commit

History

Repository files navigation

Python Dependency Virtual Environment Managers

Context

Top-Tier (Most Versatile & Recommended)

uv Installation

uv Usage

More uv Commands

Minimal requirements.txt

poetry Installation

poetry Usage

More poetry Commands

pyenv Installation

pyenv Usage

pipx Installation

pipx Usage

CLI tools to try in pipx

pixi Installation

pixi Environment Setup on VSCode

pixi Usage

Mid-Tier (Popular & Well-Supported)

pip Installation

pip Usage

venv Usage

conda Usage

hatch Installation

hatch Usage

virtualenv Installation

virtualenv Usage

Lower-Tier (Less Commonly Used)

virtualenvwrapper Installation

virtualenvwrapper Usage

flit Installation

flit Usage

About

Topics

Resources

Uh oh!

Stars

Watchers

Forks

Uh oh!

Uh oh!

Languages

Minimal `requirements.txt`