Use different Python version with virtualenv

Ulf picture Ulf · Oct 7, 2009 · Viewed 894.8k times · Source

I have a Debian system currently running with python 2.5.4. I got virtualenv properly installed, everything is working fine. Is there a possibility that I can use a virtualenv with a different version of Python?

I compiled Python 2.6.2 and would like to use it with some virtualenv. Is it enough to overwrite the binary file? Or do I have to change something in respect to the libraries?

Answer

Daniel Roseman picture Daniel Roseman · Oct 7, 2009

Just use the --python (or short -p) option when creating your virtualenv instance to specify the Python executable you want to use, e.g.:

virtualenv --python=/usr/bin/python2.6 <path/to/new/virtualenv/>

N.B. For Python 3.3 or later, refer to The Aelfinn's answer below.