setup_python_in_osx.org

You shouldn’t use system python for OSX

• Using system python for OSX is painful. Here is an article which tells you the reason.

Using Virtual Environments to set up python for OSX

Install pip

• Download latest version of get-pip.py
• Run the following:

python get-pip.py

Install virtualenv

pip install virtualenv --user

Install virtualenvwrapper

virtualenvwrapper provides a set of commands which makes working with virtual environments much more pleasant. It also places all your virtual environments in one place.

(full installation instructions)

pip install virtualenvwrapper --user

Set up shell startup file

Add three lines to your shell startup file (.bash_profile, .zshrc)

export WORKON_HOME=$HOME/.virtualenvs
export PROJECT_HOME=$HOME/Devel
source <path-to-your-virtualenvwrapper.sh>

Note: If you cannot find your virtualenvwrapper.sh, use the following command to find it.

find / -name virtualenvwrapper.sh

Create a virtual environment

mkvirtualenv py27

Work on a virtual environment

workon py27

If the virtualenv is activated, your shell should look at this.

Install python package

Once virtualenv is set up, you can simply use pip install <package-name> to install packages.

references:

• http://docs.python-guide.org/en/latest/dev/virtualenvs/#virtualenvironments-ref
• http://virtualenvwrapper.readthedocs.io/en/latest/install.html
• http://stackoverflow.com/a/12648034