Installation¶
via pipx¶
virtualenv is a CLI tool that needs a Python interpreter to run. If you already have a Python 3.5+
interpreter the best is to use pipx to install virtualenv into an isolated environment. This has the added
benefit that later you’ll be able to upgrade virtualenv without affecting other parts of the system.
pipx install virtualenv
virtualenv --help
via pip¶
Alternatively you can install it within the global Python interpreter itself (perhaps as a user package via the
--user flag). Be cautious if you are using a python install that is managed by your operating system or
another package manager. pip might not coordinate with those tools, and may leave your system in an
inconsistent state.
python -m pip --user install virtualenv
python -m virtualenv --help
via zipapp¶
You can use virtualenv without installing it too. We publish a Python zipapp, you can just download this from https://bootstrap.pypa.io/virtualenv.pyz and invoke this package with a python interpreter:
python virtualenv.pyz --help
The root level zipapp is always the current latest release. To get the last supported zipapp against a given python
minor release use the link https://bootstrap.pypa.io/virtualenv/x.y/virtualenv.pyz, e.g. for the last virtualenv
supporting Python 2.7 use
https://bootstrap.pypa.io/virtualenv/2.7/virtualenv.pyz.
Python and OS Compatibility¶
virtualenv works with the following Python interpreter implementations:
This means virtualenv works on the latest patch version of each of these minor versions. Previous patch versions are supported on a best effort approach. virtualenv works on the following platforms:
Unix/Linux,
macOS,
Windows.