Chapter 21: Advanced Python Programming – Virtual Environment
21.1 Introduction In Python development, especially in advanced or professional settings, managing project dependencies is critical. A virtual environment provides an isolated workspace for a Python project, allowing you to maintain separate package versions for different projects and avoid conflicts. This chapter explores virtual environments in detail, covering their importance, creation, usage, management, and integration with IDEs. 21.2 What is a Virtual Environment? A virtual environment is a self-contained directory that contains a Python interpreter and a set of installed packages. It enables: Isolation from system-wide Python packages. Different package versions per project. Clean and conflict-free development. Easier deployment and reproducibility. 21.3 Why Use a Virtual Environment? Key Benefits: Dependency Isolation : Avoid conflicts between package versions used by different projects. Reproducibility : Share your project and require...