Python venv Cheat Sheet

python -m venv .venv

# Create a conventional project-local virtual environment.

python3 -m venv .venv

# Use python3 explicitly on systems where python points elsewhere.

py -m venv .venv

# Create an environment using the Windows Python launcher.

python3.12 -m venv .venv

# Use a specific interpreter to choose the base Python version.

python -m venv ~/venvs/myproject

# Create a venv anywhere, not just in the project root.

python -m venv --without-pip .venv

# Skip pip bootstrap during environment creation.

python -m venv --system-site-packages .venv

# Allow access to packages installed in the base interpreter.

python -m venv --clear .venv

# Clear an environment directory before recreating it.

python -m venv --upgrade .venv

# Upgrade the environment after the base interpreter changed.

python -m venv --prompt myapp .venv

# Set the prompt label shown when the environment is active.

python -m venv --help

# Display available venv command-line options.

source .venv/bin/activate

# Activate a virtual environment on Linux or macOS.

. .venv/bin/activate

# POSIX shell shorthand for source.

source .venv/bin/activate.fish

# Use the fish shell activation script.

source .venv/bin/activate.csh

# Use the csh activation script.

.venv\Scripts\activate.bat

# Activate from Command Prompt.

.venv\Scripts\Activate.ps1

# Activate from PowerShell.

Set-ExecutionPolicy -Scope CurrentUser RemoteSigned

# Change policy so local activation scripts can run.

deactivate

# Leave the current virtual environment.

which python

# Verify the interpreter path after activation.

echo $VIRTUAL_ENV

# See which environment is active.

python --version

# Print the Python version from the current environment.

python -c "import sys; print(sys.executable)"

# Print the executable path for the active interpreter.

python -c "import sys; print(sys.prefix); print(sys.base_prefix)"

# Confirm whether you are inside a venv.

python -c "import site; print(site.getsitepackages())"

# Print the active site-packages directories.

python -m pip --version

# Confirm pip belongs to the active environment.

python -m pip list

# Show packages currently installed in the environment.

python -m pip freeze

# Print installed packages in requirements format.

python -m pip show requests

# Display metadata for an installed package.

cat .venv/pyvenv.cfg

# Review the environment metadata file.

python -m pip install --upgrade pip setuptools wheel

# Upgrade pip and common packaging helpers in the environment.

python -m pip install requests

# Install one package in the active environment.

python -m pip install Django==5.1.4

# Install an exact package version.

python -m pip install --upgrade requests

# Upgrade a package to a newer version.

python -m pip uninstall requests

# Remove a package from the environment.

python -m pip install -e .

# Develop a local package without reinstalling after every change.

python -m pip install -r requirements.txt

# Install dependencies from a requirements file.

python -m pip freeze > requirements.txt

# Snapshot the current environment to a requirements file.

python -m pip install -r requirements.txt -c constraints.txt

# Apply version constraints during installation.

python -m pip check

# Detect broken or incompatible installed dependencies.

python -m pip download -r requirements.txt -d ./wheelhouse

# Fetch packages into a local directory for later use.

rm -rf .venv

# Remove the environment directory completely.

Remove-Item -Recurse -Force .venv

# Remove the environment directory recursively.

rm -rf .venv && python -m venv .venv && source .venv/bin/activate && python -m pip install -U pip setuptools wheel && python -m pip install -r requirements.txt

# Delete, recreate, and reinstall dependencies.

venv:
  rm -rf .venv
  python -m venv .venv
  . .venv/bin/activate && python -m pip install -U pip setuptools wheel
  . .venv/bin/activate && python -m pip install -r requirements.txt

# Automate the rebuild workflow in a Makefile target.

python -m pip install --upgrade --force-reinstall -r requirements.txt

# Force reinstall to match a requirements file closely.

python -m ensurepip --default-pip

# Install bundled pip into the current Python environment.

python -m ensurepip --upgrade

# Upgrade pip using the bundled ensurepip package.

python -m venv .venv && source .venv/bin/activate && python -m pip install --upgrade pip setuptools wheel

# Create a venv and upgrade pip tools immediately.

python -m pip --version

# Bind pip explicitly to the chosen interpreter.

Get-Command python

# See which python command PowerShell resolves.

where python

# See multiple Python commands on PATH.