Setup a Python Development Environment

This is intended as a quick reference and explanation of how I setup environments to develop via Python on my Mac.

Requirements

• Develop/test on different versions of Python.
• Isolate each project from each other.

Isolate Python versions

pyenv a simple python version management tool that can be installed via homebrew.

Installalation

brew install pyenv

List installed python versions

pyenv install --list

Load python versions

pyenv install -v 3.8.2

List your loaded python versions

pyenv versions

Change your global python version

pyenv global 3.8.2

Set location specific python version

pyenv local 2.7.15

Uninstall any version

pyenv uninstall 2.7.15

Add to ~/.bash_profile

export PYENV_ROOT="$HOME/.pyenv"
export PATH="$PYENV_ROOT/bin:$PATH"
if command -v pyenv 1>/dev/null 2>&1; then
  eval "$(pyenv init -)"
fi

Create a virtual environment

pyenv versions
pyenv shell 3.8.2
python -V
python -m venv env
source env/bin/activate

Leave virtual environment

deactivate