Install python on windows 8.1 with distribute, pip, virtualenv and virtualenvwrapper-powershell .

Today I wand to show you something new. The goal is using python under Windows OS (Windows 8.1).

This tutorial will cover the instalation of Python 2.7 with distribute (0.7.3), pip (1.5.2), virtualenv (1.11.2) and virtualenvwrapper-powershell.

The default instalation folder I used is under C: drive

I used python 2.7.6.

It's a executable file ... just run it.

Now you have: C:\Python27\ folder with all files.

We need to using also the fork of the Setuptools project named distribute.

Download distribute zip file from python distribute 0.7.3.

Unarhive the file under C: drive and you will have C:\distribute-0.7.3 folder.

Go to distribute and let's install it.

C:\>cd distribute-0.7.3
C:\distribute-0.7.3>\Python27\python.exe setup.py --help
C:\distribute-0.7.3>\Python27\python.exe setup.py build
C:\distribute-0.7.3>\Python27\python.exe setup.py install

Also we need to install pip , see this pip webpage.

You need to get this python script from here.

Put this script into C:\Python27 folder and use this command to install pip.

C:\Python27>python.exe get-pip.py

Under site-packages you can see the pip and distribute ...

C:\Python27\Lib\site-packages>dir /w
 Volume in drive C has no label.
 Volume Serial Number is 9AE5-9AC9

 Directory of C:\Python27\Lib\site-packages

[.]
[..]
distribute-0.7.3-py2.7.egg
easy-install.pth
[pip]
[pip-1.5.2.dist-info]
README.txt
setuptools.pth
[virtualenv-1.11.2.dist-info]
virtualenv.py
virtualenv.pyc
[virtualenvwrapper_powershell-12.7.8-py2.7.egg-info]
[virtualenv_support]

Let's see if this python modules working ...

C:\Python27>python.exe
Python 2.7.6 (default, Nov 10 2013, 19:24:24) [MSC v.1500 64 bit (AMD64)] on win32
Type "help", "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information.
>>> import distutils
>>> import pip
>>>

Edit your environment variable by adding: ";C:\Python27\Scripts\" and ";C:\Python27\", see image below:

After that you can restart the command shell or your windows os.

I just restart the command shell and working well with the new environment vars...

Now we need to install virtualenv and virtualenvwrapper-powershell using pip:

C:\>pip install virtualenv
C:\>pip install virtualenvwrapper-powershell

The virtualenv kit provides the ability to create virtual Python environments that do not interfere with either each other, or the main Python installation.

And virtualenvwrapper-powershell it's a PowerShell clone of Doug Hellmann's virtualenvwrapper.

C:\Python27>pip list
distribute (0.7.3)
pip (1.5.2)
setuptools (0.8b2)
virtualenv (1.11.2)
virtualenvwrapper-powershell (12.7.8)

... and this is all for today.

The sandboxed Python - development environments using pip and virtualenv .

Use pip and virtualenv and you can make sandboxed Python development environments.

With this tools such as pip and virtualenv you have total control over the development environment.

Why? Because if your project is developed by a team with mutiple developers then they prefer having exactly replicated environments.

Let's try some simple example commands:

1. Start your environment ( in my case is: my_new_env ).

[free-tutorials@free-tutorials ~]$ python virtualenv.py my_new_env
New python executable in my_new_env/bin/python
Installing setuptools..................done.
Installing pip.............done.

Activate your environment ( in my case is: my_new_env ).

[free-tutorials@free-tutorials ~]$ . my_new_env/bin/activate

Let's see the pip --help command :

(my_new_env)[free-tutorials@free-tutorials ~]$ pip --help
Usage: pip COMMAND [OPTIONS]
 --version                    show program's version number and exit
 -h, --help                   Show help
 -v, --verbose                Give more output
 -q, --quiet                  Give less output
 --log <filename>             Log file where a complete (maximum verbosity)
                              record will be kept
 --proxy <proxy>              Specify a proxy in the form
                              user:passwd@proxy.server:port. Note that the
                              user:password@ is optional and required only if
                              you are behind an authenticated proxy. If you
                              provide user@proxy.server:port then you will be
                              prompted for a password.
 --timeout <seconds>          Set the socket timeout (default 15 seconds)
 --exists-action <exists_action>
                              Default action when a path already exists. Use
                              this option more than one time to specify
                              another action if a certain option is not
                              available. Choices: (s)witch, (i)gnore, (w)ipe,
                              (b)ackup

Commands available:
  bundle: Create pybundles (archives containing multiple packages)
  freeze: Output all currently installed packages (exact versions) to stdout
  help: Show available commands
  install: Install packages
  search: Search PyPI
  uninstall: Uninstall packages
  unzip: Unzip individual packages
  zip: Zip individual packages

Now we will use freeze and install.

I will list all the pip packages used in my virtual environment.

(my_new_env)[free-tutorials@free-tutorials ~]$  pip freeze -l
PyOpenGL==3.0.2
PyOpenGL-accelerate==3.0.2

Put all the output in my_packages.txt file.

(my_new_env)[free-tutorials@free-tutorials ~]$ pip freeze -l > my_packages.txt

Install my packages from my_packages.txt .

(my_new_env)[free-tutorials@free-tutorials ~]$ pip install -r my_packages.txt
Requirement already satisfied (use --upgrade to upgrade): PyOpenGL==3.0.2 in 
./my_new_env/lib/python2.7/site-packages (from -r my_packages.txt (line 1))
Requirement already satisfied (use --upgrade to upgrade): PyOpenGL-accelerate==3.0.2 in 
./my_new_env/lib/python2.7/site-packages (from -r my_packages.txt (line 2))
Cleaning up...

Let's try now to find one python module : opencv .

(my_new_env)[free-tutorials@free-tutorials ~]$ pip search opencv 
remotecv                  - remotecv is an OpenCV server for facial and
                            feature recognition
ctypes-opencv             - ctypes-opencv - A Python wrapper for OpenCV using
                            ctypes
pyopencv                  - PyOpenCV - A Python wrapper for OpenCV 2.x using
                            Boost.Python and NumPy
opencv-cython             - An alternative OpenCV wrapper
CVtypes                   - Python OpenCV wrapper using ctypes
Tippy                     - another Toolbox for Image Processing in PYthon,
                            based on OpenCV

You can see where the version of python you are using installs to by running it the next python code.

>>> import sys
>>> sys.prefix
'/home/free-tutorials/my_new_env'
>>> sys.exec_prefix
'/home/free-tutorials/my_new_env'

To leave your environment just type next command: $ deactivate.

I will come with new tutorials about pip and virtualenv .

See you later.