What are the Differences Between venv, pyvenv, virtualenv, pyenv, and pipenv?

Understanding the Differences Between venv, pyvenv, pyenv, virtualenv, and More

The Python ecosystem offers a plethora of packages that address the creation and isolation of Python environments. With acronyms and names that resemble each other, understanding their differences can be daunting. This article aims to shed light on the functionalities and distinctions among these packages.

PyPI Packages

• virtualenv: A widely-adopted package for creating isolated Python environments. It modifies the PATH environment variable to prioritize a custom bin directory within the virtual environment.
• pyenv: Facilitates the installation and management of multiple Python versions. It integrates with the OS shell to determine which Python version to execute based on predefined configurations.
• pyenv-virtualenv: A plugin for pyenv that allows the concurrent use of pyenv and virtualenv.
• virtualenvwrapper: A set of extensions for virtualenv, providing commands for convenient management and switching between virtual environments.
• pyenv-virtualenvwrapper: Integrates virtualenvwrapper into pyenv for enhanced functionality.
• pipenv: Combines Pipfile, pip, and virtualenv into a streamlined tool primarily designed for developing Python applications.

Standard Library

• pyvenv: A script included with Python 3.3 to 3.7, but removed in Python 3.8 due to limitations. Running python3 -m venv has the same effect as pyvenv, creating a virtual environment.
• venv: A package included in Python 3, which can be executed using python3 -m venv. It shares similarities with virtualenv but offers a more limited feature set.

Recommendation

For beginners, it's advisable to start with virtualenv and pip, which are widely compatible and suitable for various scenarios. As you encounter specific needs, you can explore other tools mentioned here.

The above is the detailed content of What are the Differences Between venv, pyvenv, virtualenv, pyenv, and pipenv?. For more information, please follow other related articles on the PHP Chinese website!