Install a requirements file
Install project dependencies from requirements.txt.
bashANYrequirementsinstallpip
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python -m pip install -r requirements.txtNotes
Standard setup command for many Python apps.
Python venv + pip Cheat Sheet
Package installation, requirements, editable installs, wheel workflows, and dependency troubleshooting inside Python virtual environments.
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Requirements and lock-style workflows
Install and snapshot dependencies consistently.
Install development requirements
Install a second requirements file for dev-only tools.
bashANYrequirementsdevelopmentpip
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python -m pip install -r requirements-dev.txtNotes
Common when separating runtime and developer tooling.
Write a requirements snapshot
Freeze the current environment to a file.
bashANYfreezerequirementssnapshot
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python -m pip freeze > requirements.txtNotes
Captures exact package versions in pip format.
Compare installed packages to requirements
Diff the current environment snapshot against a file.
bashANYfreezediffrequirements
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diff -u requirements.txt <(python -m pip freeze)Notes
Useful on bash/zsh to see dependency drift quickly.
Install without dependencies
Install a package while skipping dependency resolution.
bashANYinstallno-depspip
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python -m pip install --no-deps mypackageNotes
Useful in controlled builds or when debugging dependency issues.
Install from hash-checked requirements
Require pinned hashes during install.
bashANYrequirementshashessecurity
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python -m pip install --require-hashes -r requirements.txtNotes
Stricter installs for reproducibility and integrity checks.
Editable and local installs
Develop libraries and applications locally within a venv.
Editable install of current project
Install the current project in editable mode.
bashANYeditablelocalpip
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python -m pip install -e .Notes
Common for local development so changes are reflected without reinstalling.
Editable install with extras
Install development extras from pyproject or setup metadata.
bashANYeditableextrasdevelopment
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python -m pip install -e ".[dev]"Notes
Convenient when your project defines optional development dependencies.
bash
python -m pip install dist/my_package-0.1.0-py3-none-any.whlNotes
Useful for testing built artifacts in a clean environment.
bash
python -m pip install dist/my_package-0.1.0.tar.gzNotes
Useful when validating source distribution packaging.
Wheelhouse and offline patterns
Prepare or reuse package artifacts without live internet installs.
Build wheels for requirements
Create wheel artifacts for dependencies.
bashANYwheelrequirementsoffline
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python -m pip wheel -r requirements.txt -w ./wheelhouseNotes
Builds or downloads wheel files into a local directory for faster later installs.
Install only from a local wheelhouse
Install using local artifacts and no package index.
bashANYwheelhouseofflineinstall
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python -m pip install --no-index --find-links=./wheelhouse -r requirements.txtNotes
Useful for offline environments or repeatable deployments.
bash
python -m pip cache dirNotes
Good starting point when troubleshooting repeated downloads or cache bloat.
bash
python -m pip cache purgeNotes
Useful when stale cache state may be causing confusion.
Dependency debugging
Figure out why an environment behaves differently than expected.
Show package install location
Display metadata and install location for a package.
bashANYpipshowlocation
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python -m pip show urllib3Notes
Use this to confirm whether a package is installed in the active venv versus a base interpreter.
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python -m pip list --outdatedNotes
Useful when planning upgrades or security remediation.
bash
python -m pip debugNotes
Helpful when debugging platform tags, config, or install behavior.
bash
python -c "import sys; print('
'.join(sys.path))"Notes
Useful when imports succeed or fail unexpectedly due to path order.
Print imported package version
Check the version of an imported module at runtime.
bashANYimportsversiondebugging
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python -c "import requests; print(requests.__version__)"Notes
Confirms which version is actually importable in the active venv.
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