Here are my notes for using pyenv and pyenv-virtualenvwrapper on macOS.
I use pyenv to install and manage multiple Python versions on the same machine. pyenv makes it possible to upgrade my default version of Python without breaking every project that was created with the older version until I’m ready to upgrade them.
I use pyenv-virtualenvwrapper to manage my projects. pyenv-virtualenvwrapper is a set of tools that make it easier to create, delete, copy, and manage Python virtual environments.
Install pyenv through Homebrew
brew update
brew install pyenv
brew install pyenv-virtualenvwrapper
Configuring pyenv to work with my shell
## set a variable for finding pyenv
export PYENV_ROOT="${HOME}/.pyenv"
# 2024-02 Python pyenv settings
if command -v pyenv > /dev/null; then
eval "$(pyenv init --path)";
eval "$(pyenv init -)";
pyenv virtualenvwrapper_lazy
fi
Install the “latest” Python versions using pyenv
# install latest Python 3.11
pyenv install 3.11:latest
# to see which version of 3.11 was installed
pyenv latest 3.11
> 3.11.7
# install latest Python 3.12
pyenv install 3.12:latest
# to see which version of 3.12 was installed
pyenv latest 3.12
> 3.12.1
# set each version globally to our latest python 3.x version
pyenv global 3.11.7 3.12.1
Upgrading Python versions
pyenv install --skip-existing 3.11:latest
pyenv install --skip-existing 3.12:latest
List every version of Python that is installable
pyenv install --list
List every installed version of Python
pyenv versions
