Calling IPython from a virtualenv

Question

I understand that IPython is not virtualenv-aware and that the most logical solution to this is to install ipython in each virtualenv seperately using

pip install ipython

So far so good. One thing I noticed is that if the system-wide copy of IPython is called from within a virtualenv using $> ipython before IPython is installed under this virtualenv, subsequent $> ipython commands will continue to bring up the system-wide ipython copy.

On the other hand, if ipython is not called prior to installing it under a virtualenv $> ipython will bring up the newly installed copy.

What is the explanation for this?

It also makes me wonder if this behavior means I should expect some trouble down the way?

Answer 1

alias ipy="python -c 'import IPython; IPython.terminal.ipapp.launch_new_instance()'"

This is a great way of always being sure that the ipython instance always belongs to the virtualenv's python version.

This works only on ipython >2.0.

Source

Answer 2

The answer given by @SiddharthaRT is good! Following this approach, it is simpler for me just:

python -m IPython

This will use the module IPython through the python bin, ensuring that it refers to the bin from the virtual env.

Answer 3

You can force IPython to use a virtual environment if available by adding file below to ~/.ipython/profile_default/startups:

import os
import sys

if 'VIRTUAL_ENV' in os.environ:
    py_version = sys.version_info[:2] # formatted as X.Y 
    py_infix = os.path.join('lib', ('python%d.%d' % py_version))
    virtual_site = os.path.join(os.environ.get('VIRTUAL_ENV'), py_infix, 'site-packages')
    dist_site = os.path.join('/usr', py_infix, 'dist-packages')

    # OPTIONAL: exclude debian-based system distributions sites
    sys.path = filter(lambda p: not p.startswith(dist_site), sys.path)

    # add virtualenv site
    sys.path.insert(0, virtual_site)

I recommend naming it 00-virtualenv.py so changes will be made as early as possible.

Note: Make sure ipython is installed in the new virtual environment to get this to work.

Answer 4

1. Activate your virtual environment by using source ~/.virtualenvs/my_venv/bin/activate or by running workon my_venv (Depending on how you've installed the my_venv virtual environment)

2. Install ipython

pip install ipython

3. Now run ipython from my_venv.

If it still loads the system's ipython, then run hash -r in your shell

This will reset the cache of your shell and ensure you don't run another ipython that was already called in this shell session.