Installation ============ via pipx -------- :pypi:`virtualenv` is a CLI tool that needs a Python interpreter to run. If you already have a ``Python 3.5+`` interpreter the best is to use :pypi:`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. .. code-block:: console pipx install virtualenv virtualenv --help via 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. .. code-block:: console python -m pip --user install virtualenv python -m virtualenv --help via zipapp ---------- You can use virtualenv without installing it too. We publish a Python `zipapp `_, you can just download this from `https://bootstrap.pypa.io/virtualenv.pyz `_ and invoke this package with a python interpreter: .. code-block:: console python virtualenv.pyz --help The root level zipapp is always the current latest release. To get the last supported zipapp against a given python minor release use the link ``https://bootstrap.pypa.io/x.y/virtualenv.pyz``, e.g. for the last virtualenv supporting Python 2.7 use `https://bootstrap.pypa.io/2.7/virtualenv.pyz `_. .. _compatibility-requirements: Python and OS Compatibility --------------------------- virtualenv works with the following Python interpreter implementations: - `CPython `_ versions 2.7, 3.4, 3.5, 3.6, 3.7, 3.8 - `PyPy `_ 2.7 and 3.4+. This means virtualenv works on the latest patch version of each of these minor versions. Previous patch versions are supported on a best effort approach. virtualenv works on the following platforms: - Unix/Linux, - macOS, - Windows.