Set up a Python virtual environment

Python virtual environments run their own site directories, allowing them to be optionally separated from system directories. This can easily avoid a potential nightmare of version conflicts - one piece of software on your system may require a certain version to run, while another make require a different one.

Create

venv is a tool that can be used to create an environment:

python3 -m venv venv

Activate

source venv/bin/activate

You will see the prompt change to something like this:

(venv)Username@Computer myfolder %

Use

Install dependencies within the new Python virtual environment. For Mac, the command is:

pip install {packagename}

Deactivate

To stop it, type:

deactivate

Close

Simply type

exit