System PIP instead of virtualenv PIP by default?

Question

After using virtualenv with pip off-and-on for a couple of days, I've found that the version of PIP that is used after the virtualenv is actived is the global PIP instead of the PIP relative to that environment; such that if you don't set the shell environment variable export PIP_RESPECT_VIRTUALENV=true, pip will install whatever new package (e.g. pip install argparse) to the global scope instead of only to the virtualenv.

I would expect PIP to install to the virtualenv by default, if that virtualenv is activated.

Is there a reasoning behind it not working that way by default?

See explanation here for how PIP_RESPECT_VIRTUALENV works.

Answer 1

It is not the first time I see someone reporting the same issue. I don't know what is happening, but some people discourage the use o source /path/to/venv/bin/activate because it can mess up your $PATH.

There is a way pip will always respect your virtualenv: don't rely on $PATH. Use:

/path/to/venv/bin/pip install MYPACKAGE

It would be nice to find out what is happening to you and share your solution with others. Meanwhile, it may be ok to use the absolute path to pip.

Answer 2

When you create a virtualenv, the activate file hardcodes the variable VIRTUAL_ENV to the location in which you first created the root directory. This variable is then exported when you source <your-venv>/bin/activate.

Consequently, if you move the virtualenv directory subsequent to its creation, the hardcoded file path will be incorrect.

Just open <your-venv>/bin/activate in a text editor and make sure VIRTUAL_ENV is set to the new path of your virtualenv directory:

VIRTUAL_ENV="/Full/path/to/<your-venv>"
export VIRTUAL_ENV

before running source <your-venv>/bin/activate again.

Then of course you can test the version of pip with which pip which should produce:

/Full/path/to/<your-venv>/bin/pip

rather than /usr/bin/pip or /bin/pip etc.