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Python Environment Managers

Why do you need an environment manager for Python?

  • Version Control: Manage different Python and package versions across projects
  • Ease of Deployment: Simplify the transition to production environments
  • Avoiding Conflicts: Prevent package conflicts between different projects

Python Virtual Environment (venv)​

The venv module supports creating lightweight "virtual environments".

Basic Usage​

# Create new environment
python -m venv myenv

# Activate environment
# On Windows:
myenv\Scripts\activate
# On Unix/MacOS:
source myenv/bin/activate

# Deactivate environment
deactivate

# Remove the virtual environment (delete the folder)
rm -rf myenv

Features​

  • Built into Python standard library
  • Lightweight and simple
  • Supports only single Python version

Anaconda​

Anaconda provides package, dependency, and environment management for any language.

Windows Setup​

Add the following paths to system environment variables:

  • C:\ProgramData\anaconda3
  • C:\ProgramData\anaconda3\Library\bin
  • C:\ProgramData\anaconda3\Scripts
  • C:\ProgramData\anaconda3\Lib\site-packages
提示

Restart your PC after configuration.

Basic Commands​

# Check Anaconda version
conda --version

# Update Anaconda
conda update conda
conda update anaconda

Disable Automatic Activation​

To prevent Conda from being automatically activated as the default terminal environment when you open a terminal:

conda config --set auto_activate_base false

Environment Management​

# Create new environment
conda create --name myenv python=3.11

# Activate environment
conda activate myenv

# List all environments
conda env list

# Deactivate environment
conda deactivate

# Remove an environment
conda remove --name myenv --all

Package Management​

# Install packages
conda install package_name

# Update a package
conda update package_name

# Remove a package
conda remove package_name

# List all installed packages
conda list

# Search for a package
conda search package_name

Environment Export and Import​

# Export an environment
conda env export > environment.yml

# Create an environment from a file
conda env create -f environment.yml

uv​

uv is an extremely fast Python package and project manager, written in Rust.

Usage Steps​

  1. Install uv
  2. Create a new project
  3. Create a new environment in the project folder
  4. Install the required packages
  5. Add the package dependencies
  6. Run program with uv

Install & Using uv​

# Install uv
pip install uv

Project Management​

# Create new project
uv init new_project

cd new_project

# Create new environment
uv venv

# Run a script
uv run hello.py

Python Management​

# Install multiple Python versions
uv python install 3.10 3.11 3.12

# Set a Python version in the current directory
uv python pin 3.11

# List all python versions
uv python list

Install Packages​

# Install packages (much faster than pip)
uv pip install numpy pandas

# Install from requirements.txt
uv pip install -r requirements.txt

Managing Package Dependencies​

# Specify a version constraint
uv add 'package_name==2.31.0'

# Add a git dependency
uv add git+https://github.com/package_link

# Remove a package
uv remove package_name

# Upgrade a package
uv lock --upgrade-package package_name

Comparison​

Featurevenvcondauv
PurposeBasic virtual environmentsComplete environment managementFast package management
Speed★★★★★★
Key StrengthBuilt into PythonHandles all dependenciesUltra-fast installations
Package SourcePyPI onlyConda + PyPIPyPI only
Multiple Python VersionsNoYesYes
Main Use CaseSingle Python projectsData Science & Scientific ComputingModern Python development

Choose venv when:​

  • Working on simple Python projects
  • Standard library is sufficient
  • Need lightweight environment

Choose Anaconda when:​

  • Working on data science projects
  • Need scientific computing libraries
  • Dealing with complex dependencies
  • Using other languages like R, Julia

Choose uv when:​

  • Modern Python development
  • Fast package installation is important
  • Managing multiple Python versions
  • Project-oriented development