venv-pack
Package virtual environments for redistribution
Decision gist · record as of 2026-08-14
No, unless you are maintaining legacy code that already depends on venv-pack. The project is abandoned, last updated in August 2018, and has not been tested against modern Python versions. For new projects, use containerization or modern dependency management tools instead.AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying
Before you install
- Requires an existing virtual environment to package; last tested against Python 3.7.
- Installation is straightforward with no runtime dependencies, but the project has been abandoned since late 2022 with no updates for nearly three years.
- Use only if your workflow is stable and you do not expect ongoing maintenance or compatibility fixes.
License · maintenance · safety
BSD (permissive) — BSD license is permissive and poses no restrictions on commercial or private use, modification, or redistribution.
last release 2018-08-23 (2913 days) · last repo commit 2022-11-20 · 52 stars
0 known vulnerabilities (OSV.dev, 2026-08-14) · 379,139 downloads/mo, #7,112 on PyPI
Alternatives
Verify before relying
pip install venv-pack
venv-pack -p /path/to/venv -o venv.tar.gz- Whether the tool works reliably with Python versions beyond 3.7, given the last release was in August 2018.
- Compatibility with current virtual environment structures and whether packed environments remain portable across Python patch versions.
What it is and what it does
Venv-pack is a command-line utility that serializes Python virtual environments into compressed archives for easy distribution and reuse. Instead of shipping source code and requiring users to install dependencies, you package an entire venv—with all installed packages and their exact versions—into a single file that can be extracted and activated on another machine. This eliminates dependency resolution and installation time on the receiving end.
The tool is designed for scenarios where you want to distribute a pre-configured Python environment without relying on package managers or build tools. It fills a niche between shipping source code (which requires installation) and containerization (which is heavier). However, the project has not been maintained since August 2018, and the latest release supports only Python versions up to 3.7, making it a legacy tool for stable, unchanging workflows rather than a foundation for new projects.
Use it for
- Distribute a pre-configured environment with specific library versions to collaborators without requiring them to run pip install.
- Archive a working venv for long-term reproducibility, ensuring the exact dependency state can be restored years later.
- Share a development environment across team members on the same OS without requiring each to rebuild from requirements.
- Package a venv for deployment to a server where you want to avoid installation overhead and ensure consistency.
Worth the install?
AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page. Verify before relying on it.
No, unless you are maintaining legacy code that already depends on venv-pack.
The project is abandoned, last updated in August 2018, and has not been tested against modern Python versions. For new projects, use containerization or modern dependency management tools instead.
Install
venv-pack on PyPI
Before you install
Installation is straightforward with no runtime dependencies, but the project has been abandoned since late 2022 with no updates for nearly three years. Use only if your workflow is stable and you do not expect ongoing maintenance or compatibility fixes.
Requires an existing virtual environment to package; last tested against Python 3.7.
License in practice
BSD license is permissive and poses no restrictions on commercial or private use, modification, or redistribution.
Quickstart
pip install venv-pack
venv-pack -p /path/to/venv -o venv.tar.gzVerify before relying
- Whether the tool works reliably with Python versions beyond 3.7, given the last release was in August 2018.
- Compatibility with current virtual environment structures and whether packed environments remain portable across Python patch versions.
Package facts
| License | BSD permissive |
| Python support | Not specified |
| Install friction | Low. Pure-Python wheel |
| Runtime dependencies | None |
| Maintenance | Abandoned 2,913 days since the last release |
| Last repo commit | |
| First released | |
| Downloads | 379,139 / month, #7,112 on PyPI 30-day window, as of 2026-08-14 |
| Known vulnerabilities | None known OSV.dev, checked 2026-08-14 |
| Classifiers | Development Status :: 4 - BetaLicense :: OSI Approved :: BSD LicenseProgramming Language :: Python :: 2.7Programming Language :: Python :: 3.5Programming Language :: Python :: 3.6Programming Language :: Python :: 3.7Topic :: Software Development :: Build ToolsTopic :: System :: Archiving :: PackagingTopic :: System :: Software Distribution |
Evidence: venv_pack-0.2.0-py2.py3-none-any.whl
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