virtualenv

Virtual Python Environment builder

virtualenv Permissive license MIT Active ★ 5,042 v21.7.4 released 2026-08-10

Install

virtualenv on PyPI

pip

pip install virtualenv

uv

uv add virtualenv

poetry

poetry add virtualenv

Package facts

License	MIT (permissive)
Python support	supports the current Python release (>=3.9)
Install friction	low — pure-Python wheel
Runtime dependencies	5 — distlib, filelock, platformdirs, python-discovery, typing-extensions
Maintenance	actively maintained — 3 days since the last release
Last repo commit	2026-08-12
First released	2007-09-14
Popularity	one of the 100 most-downloaded packages on PyPI (30-day window, as of 2026-08-13)
Known vulnerabilities	none known (OSV.dev, checked 2026-08-13)

Evidence: virtualenv-21.7.4-py3-none-any.whl

Keywords: environments, isolated, virtual

Development Status :: 5 - Production/StableIntended Audience :: DevelopersLicense :: OSI Approved :: MIT LicenseOperating System :: MacOS :: MacOS XOperating System :: Microsoft :: WindowsOperating System :: POSIXProgramming Language :: Python :: 3 :: OnlyProgramming Language :: Python :: 3.10Programming Language :: Python :: 3.11Programming Language :: Python :: 3.12Programming Language :: Python :: 3.13Programming Language :: Python :: 3.14Programming Language :: Python :: 3.15Programming Language :: Python :: 3.9Programming Language :: Python :: Implementation :: CPythonProgramming Language :: Python :: Implementation :: PyPyTopic :: Software Development :: LibrariesTopic :: Software Development :: TestingTopic :: Utilities

About virtualenv

from the package's own PyPI description — quoted content, verbatim

virtualenv

PyPI (image) PyPI - Implementation (image) PyPI - Python Version (image) Documentation (image) Discord (image) Downloads (image) PyPI - License (image) check (image)

A tool for creating isolated virtual python environments.

Installation
Documentation -...

Read as markdown · JSON record · Source repository · Homepage · Docs

AI interpretation — verify before relying

AI-generated interpretation of the package facts above; every digit, version, license, or vulnerability id it cites is grounded in the facts already shown on this page

Creates isolated Python virtual environments to manage dependencies and Python versions separately from the system installation.

Actively maintained with a release just 3 days old and strong community backing (5042 stars). Low install friction with a pure-Python wheel distribution and minimal runtime dependencies.

MIT license permits commercial and private use with minimal restrictions—standard permissive terms suitable for most projects.

Usage

pip install virtualenv
import virtualenv
virtualenv.cli_run(['path/to/venv'])

Requires Python 3.9 or later.

Verdict: A production-stable, actively maintained tool from the Python Packaging Authority with zero known vulnerabilities, low install friction, and permissive licensing. Suitable for any project needing isolated Python environments.

Needs verification

Whether distlib, filelock, platformdirs, python-discovery, and typing-extensions introduce any transitive vulnerabilities or maintenance concerns.
Whether the tool's CLI and programmatic APIs are equally stable or if one is preferred over the other.

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