Keep your Python for yourself

Photo by Artturi Jalli on Unsplash

Many times we want to use some Python utilities like black or newer versions of pip. But we don't necessarily 'contaminate' our OS or our other virtual environments.

A suggestion is to use a virtual environment and load it on your login without changing your shell prompt (PS1). Here is how I do on my Ubuntu.

First, you have to make sure you have the basic development packages and Python modules:

$ sudo apt install -y \
  build-essential \
  python3-dev \
  python3-pip \
  python3-venv

Then you can create your personal Python virtual environment

$ python -m venv .venv

Now you just need to add to your own .bashrc script the following lines

export VIRTUAL_ENV_DISABLE_PROMPT=1
source ~/.venv/bin/activate

Now after reloading your .bashrc file or log out and log in again, all the Python commands will point to the ones on your home directory.