How to Install Python and Use Virtual Environments

What this is

Python virtual environments isolate dependencies per project so your system Python stays clean.

Prerequisites

• SSH + sudo

Step-by-step

Install Python and venv

Ubuntu/Debian:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install -y python3 python3-venv python3-pip

RHEL-based:

sudo dnf install -y python3 python3-pip

Create a project folder and venv

mkdir -p ~/projects/myapp
cd ~/projects/myapp
python3 -m venv .venv

Activate the venv

source .venv/bin/activate

Verify python/pip inside venv

python --version
pip --version

Install packages

pip install requests

Deactivate

deactivate

Conclusion

You can now manage Python dependencies safely per project using virtual environments.