Pipenv

Installation and Setup

Install from the Python Package Index (PyPI) into a virtual environment:

• Windows
• Linux + macOS

PS> py -m pip install pipenv
PS> pipenv --version

$ python -m pip install pipenv
$ pipenv --version

On Windows, Pipenv’s documentation recommends installing with pipx instead, which puts Pipenv in an isolated environment and makes the pipenv command available system-wide:

PS> py -m pip install --user pipx
PS> pipx install pipenv

Key Features

• Manages a per-project environment and dependencies with a CLI.
• Uses Pipfile for declared dependencies and Pipfile.lock for fully pinned, repeatable installs.
• Supports the PEP 751 pylock.toml standard lockfile format, generated alongside Pipfile.lock when use_pylock = true is set in the Pipfile.
• Supports arbitrary package categories beyond the default and development groups, selectable with --categories, plus export to requirements.txt format.
• Provides useful commands for security checks, dependency graphs, and environment inspection.
• Loads .env files for pipenv run and pipenv shell to supply environment variables during commands.

Usage

Create a virtual environment and specify the Python to use:

$ pipenv --python 3.14

A minimal Pipfile file:

[requires]
python_version = "3.14"

[packages]
requests = "~=2.32"

[dev-packages]
pytest = "~=8.0"

[scripts]
test = "pytest -q"

Install packages and update the lockfile:

$ pipenv install django
$ pipenv install --dev ruff pytest
$ pipenv lock

Enter the virtual environment or run a command inside it:

$ pipenv shell
$ pipenv run pytest

Recreate the environment from the lockfile on a different machine:

$ pipenv sync
$ pipenv sync --dev

Export pinned dependencies:

$ pipenv requirements > requirements.txt
$ pipenv requirements --dev > requirements-dev.txt

Related Resources

Tutorial

Pipenv: A Guide to the Python Packaging Tool

Pipenv is a packaging tool for Python that solves some common problems associated with the typical workflow using pip, virtualenv, and the good old requirements.txt. This guide goes over what problems Pipenv solves and how to manage your Python dependencies with it.

intermediate tools

For additional information on related topics, take a look at the following resources:

• Working With Pipenv (Course)
• Using Python's pip to Manage Your Projects' Dependencies (Tutorial)
• Dependency Management With Python Poetry (Tutorial)
• A Beginner's Guide to pip (Course)
• Using Python's pip to Manage Your Projects' Dependencies (Quiz)
• Managing Dependencies With Python Poetry (Course)
• Dependency Management With Python Poetry (Quiz)