(virtualenv-heading)=

Virtualenv

Why Use Virtualenv?

You should use Virtualenv because:

• It allows you to install multiple versions of the same dependency.
• If you have an operating system version of Python, it prevents you from changing its dependencies and potentially messing up your os.

How to Use Virtualenv

Create your project folder, then a virtualenv within it:

$ mkdir myproject
$ cd myproject
$ python3 -m venv .venv

Now, whenever you want to work on a project, you only have to activate the corresponding environment.

.. tabs::

    .. group-tab:: OSX/Linux

        .. code-block:: text

            $ . .venv/bin/activate
            (venv) $

    .. group-tab:: Windows

        .. code-block:: text

            > .venv\scripts\activate
            (venv) >

You are now using your virtualenv (notice how the prompt of your shell has changed to show the active environment).

To install packages in the virtual environment:

$ pip install click

And if you want to stop using the virtualenv, use the following command:

$ deactivate

After doing this, the prompt of your shell should be as familiar as before.