virtualenv-clone
script to clone virtualenvs.
Decision gist · record as of 2026-08-14
Yes, if you need to copy a virtualenv and the aging codebase is not a concern for your Python version and use case. The package is lightweight, has no dependencies, and solves a real problem that the standard virtualenv tools do not. However, verify compatibility with your specific Python version and virtualenv setup before relying on it in production, given the lack of recent updates.AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying
Before you install
- Requires Python 2.7 or 3.4+; the clone operation modifies shebangs and .pth files in the target virtualenv, so ensure the source virtualenv is not in use during cloning.
- Low install friction with no runtime dependencies.
- Maintenance is aging—last release was in 2021 and the repository has not been updated since May 2025, though it remains active and unarchived.
License · maintenance · safety
MIT (permissive) — MIT license is permissive; you can use, modify, and distribute this package freely with minimal restrictions.
last release 2021-09-07 (1802 days) · last repo commit 2025-05-02 · 224 stars
0 known vulnerabilities (OSV.dev, 2026-08-14) · 1,696,353 downloads/mo, #3,644 on PyPI
Alternatives
Verify before relying
pip install virtualenv-clone
python -m virtualenv_clone /path/to/old/venv /path/to/new/venv- Whether the package works correctly with modern virtualenv versions and current Python patch releases.
- Whether the aging codebase handles edge cases in recent Python or setuptools changes.
What it is and what it does
virtualenv-clone is a utility script that copies a Python virtualenv from one location to another while preserving its isolation and functionality. Unlike virtualenv's built-in `--relocatable` flag, which can break site-packages isolation and introduce issues with relative paths, this tool takes a more thorough approach: it copies the entire environment directory, updates hardcoded paths in the activate script, rewrites shebangs in bin scripts to point to the new Python interpreter, and scans sys.path to find and update any absolute references in .pth and .egg-link files that still point to the old location.
The package is designed for developers who need to duplicate virtualenvs—for backup, migration, or testing purposes—without the pitfalls of the standard relocation mechanism. It has no runtime dependencies and installs with low friction, making it straightforward to add to any workflow. However, the codebase has not seen active development since 2021, so it may not account for changes in newer Python or virtualenv behavior.
Use it for
- Back up a working virtualenv before making experimental changes to dependencies.
- Migrate a virtualenv from one machine or filesystem to another while preserving all installed packages.
- Clone a development environment for testing or sharing with team members.
- Duplicate a production-like virtualenv for local debugging without affecting the original.
Worth the install?
AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page. Verify before relying on it.
Yes, if you need to copy a virtualenv and the aging codebase is not a concern for your Python version and use case.
The package is lightweight, has no dependencies, and solves a real problem that the standard virtualenv tools do not. However, verify compatibility with your specific Python version and virtualenv setup before relying on it in production, given the lack of recent updates.
Install
virtualenv-clone on PyPI
Before you install
Low install friction with no runtime dependencies. Maintenance is aging—last release was in 2021 and the repository has not been updated since May 2025, though it remains active and unarchived.
Requires Python 2.7 or 3.4+; the clone operation modifies shebangs and .pth files in the target virtualenv, so ensure the source virtualenv is not in use during cloning.
License in practice
MIT license is permissive; you can use, modify, and distribute this package freely with minimal restrictions.
Quickstart
pip install virtualenv-clone
python -m virtualenv_clone /path/to/old/venv /path/to/new/venvVerify before relying
- Whether the package works correctly with modern virtualenv versions and current Python patch releases.
- Whether the aging codebase handles edge cases in recent Python or setuptools changes.
Package facts
| License | MIT permissive |
| Python support | Supports the current Python release >=2.7, !=3.0.*, !=3.1.*, !=3.2.*, !=3.3.* |
| Install friction | Low. Pure-Python wheel |
| Runtime dependencies | None |
| Maintenance | Aging 1,802 days since the last release |
| Last repo commit | |
| First released | |
| Downloads | 1,696,353 / month, #3,644 on PyPI 30-day window, as of 2026-08-14 |
| Known vulnerabilities | None known OSV.dev, checked 2026-08-14 |
| Classifiers | Development Status :: 3 - AlphaIntended Audience :: DevelopersLicense :: OSI Approved :: MIT LicenseProgramming Language :: PythonProgramming Language :: Python :: 2Programming Language :: Python :: 2.7Programming Language :: Python :: 3Programming Language :: Python :: 3.10Programming Language :: Python :: 3.4Programming Language :: Python :: 3.5Programming Language :: Python :: 3.6Programming Language :: Python :: 3.7Programming Language :: Python :: 3.8Programming Language :: Python :: 3.9 |
Evidence: virtualenv_clone-0.5.7-py3-none-any.whl
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