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Is there a Python-like virtualenv environment simulator for Julia where one can do development in a local, virtual environment?

Dawny33
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  • I haven't come across anything like python's virtualenv, but you might be able to accomplish what you're looking for by setting the JULIA_PKGDIR environment variable. Have a look at what it does in the docs: http://docs.julialang.org/en/release-0.4/stdlib/pkg/?highlight=julia_pkgdir. – Chisholm Nov 22 '15 at 12:58
  • @Chisholm [This](http://docs.python-guide.org/en/latest/dev/virtualenvs/) is virtualenv, the one I have included as an example in the question – Dawny33 Nov 22 '15 at 13:00
  • Sorry, I should have been more clear. I meant to say that I haven't come across anything like python's virtualenv for Julia. – Chisholm Nov 22 '15 at 13:35

3 Answers3

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Currently (julia 1.2) is able to manage virual environments via it's builtin Pkg standard library module:

julia> ]

(v1.2) pkg> activate tutorial
[ Info: activating new environment at `/tmp/tutorial/Project.toml`.

(tutorial) pkg>

(tutorial) pkg> status
    Status `/tmp/tutorial/Project.toml`
   (empty environment)

(tutorial) pkg> add Example
...

(tutorial) pkg> status
    Status `/tmp/tutorial/Project.toml`
  [7876af07] Example v0.5.1

There is Playground.jl

A package for managing julia sandboxes like python's virtualenv (with a little influence from pyenv and virtualenvwrapper)

HarmonicaMuse
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    This answer should probably be no longer considered the best answer as i believe the best practice is to generate virtual environments through the standard library. – Francis Smart Nov 22 '19 at 17:00
20

Nowadays Julia has this built into its package manager. They're called environments. It boils down to this:

  1. Enter the package mangement REPL by hitting ]
  2. Use the command activate $dir to switch to the environment described in $dir
  3. Use the command instantiate to install the packages described in the environment
tdy
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Wieke
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  • You can find a more in depth description here: https://docs.julialang.org/en/v1/manual/code-loading/#Environments-1 – BallpointBen Apr 19 '21 at 14:44
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What's wrong with just having a separate Julia installation in another directory? Then you just need to set the JULIA_PKGDIR environment variable appropriately, for the Julia setup you want to run.

a06e
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