How To Install Virtualenv on Mac OS

Sean Baier -

TL;DR

Quick walkthrough on how to install Virtualenv on Mac OS two different ways. This is an easy way to manage Python and it's dependencies in your projects.

Install Virtualenv with pipx

pipx install virtualenv

Install Virtualenv with pip

python -m pip install --user virtualenv

Why Virtualenv?

When working on multiple Python projects they will not always be running on the same version of Python. So a better way to manage the version of Python you are using is by creating a Virtual Environment.

Virtual Environments are isolated from the rest of your computer and are only responsible for each individual project's Python version and the dependencies of your project.

Virtualenv is one of several tools that solves this problem.

Mac OS Python vs. Python3

Mac OS comes with a version of Python pre installed already usually 2.7.x or something of the like.

As Python2.7 is no longer supported by the maintainers of Python so going forward you are going to want to use some sort of Python3.

You can download the latest version of Python here.

You can find out which version you have by running the following command in your terminal.

python --version

When downloading Python3 this is distinguished by calling it just that, Python3.

python3 --version

Install Virtualenv on Mac OS

There are multiple ways to install Virtualenv so I will show a couple different ones.

How To Install Virtualenv with pipx

If you already have a Python 3.5+ interpreter the best is to use pipx to install virtualenv into an isolated environment. This has the added benefit that later you’ll be able to upgrade virtualenv without affecting other parts of the system.Virtualenv Documentation

pipx install virtualenv

How To Install Virtualenv with pip

Alternatively you can install it within the global Python interpreter itself (perhaps as a user package via the --user flag). Be cautious if you are using a python install that is managed by your operating system or another package manager. pip might not coordinate with those tools, and may leave your system in an inconsistent state.Virtualenv Documentation

python3 -m pip install --user virtualenv

Make sure when using this command you are specifying python3 and not just python

Virtualenv In Action

1. Create a new project folder

mkdir virtualenv-example
cd virtualenv-example

2. Setup virtual environment

virtualenv -p python3.7 env

3. Activate virtual environment

4. Check which version of Python you have running

source ./env/bin/activate
python --version

It should be python3.7 or the like.

5. Deactivate the virtual environment

deactivate

6. Check which version of Python you are running again. It should now say the old python2.7 version.

Summary

That's it! That is a couple ways i have seen how to install Virtualenv on Mac OS.

I hope you found this walkthrough helpful!

How To Install Virtualenv on MAC OS Video Walkthrough

You can find the video for this and other Web Development tutorials at our Youtube Channel DeadbearCode!