virtual_environments.md

Virtual environments

Useful resources:

• https://packaging.python.org/tutorials/installing-packages/
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5vscPTWKOk

See also Conda pages.

Steps for creating and using a virtual environment:

1. Create a directory in which your virtual environment is going to be stored, e.g., test_env_dir

> mkdir test_env_dir
> cd test_env_dir

2. Inside that directory, create a new virtual environment using the virtualenv package

> python -m virtualenv test_env

3. Activate this new environment

> test_env/Scripts/activate

4. Notice now that [test_env] is at the start of the command line indicating you are in the new environment and can load and install Python packages as required.

(test_env) >

5. To exit the virtual environment type:

(test_env) > deactivate