IntelliJ IDEA 2022.1 Help

Configure a Pipenv environment

Pipenv is a tool that provides all necessary means to create a virtual environment for your Python project. It automatically manages project packages through the Pipfile file as you install or uninstall packages.

Pipenv also generates the Pipfile.lock file, which is used to produce deterministic builds and create a snapshot of your working environment. This might be particularly helpful for security sensitive deployment, when project requirements and packages versions are critical. For more details about pipenv, see project documentation at pipenv.kennethreitz.org/.

To use Pipenv with IntelliJ IDEA, you need to implement several preparation steps.

Install Pipenv

  1. Run the following command to ensure you have pip installed in your system:

    $ pip --version

    You should expect to receive a system response indicating the pip version. If no pip is discovered, install it as described in the Installation Instructions. Alternatively, you can download and install Python from http://python.org.

  2. Install pipenv by running the following command:

    $ pip install --user pipenv

    When installation completes, you will see the following message:

    System response on successful pipenv installation
  3. For your convenience, you might add the user base’s binary directory to your PATH environmental variable. If you skip this procedure, IntelliJ IDEA will prompt you to specify the path to the pipenv executable when adding a pipenv environment.

    1. Run the following command:

      $ py -m site --user-site

      A sample output can be:

      C:\Users\jetbrains\AppData\Roaming\Python\Python37\site-packages

    2. Replace site-packages with Scripts in this path to receive a string for adding to the PATH variable, for example:

      $ setx PATH "%PATH%;C:\Users\jetbrains\AppData\Roaming\Python\Python37\Scripts"

    1. Run the following command to find the user base's binary directory:

      $ python -m site --user-base

      An example of output can be

      /Users/jetbrains/.local (masOS) or /home/jetbrains/.local (Linux)

    2. Add bin to this path to receive a string for adding to the ~/.bashrc file, for example:

      $ export PATH="$PATH:/Users/jetbrains/.local/bin"

    3. Run the following command to make the changes effective:

      $ source ~/.bashrc

    4. Ensure you have enabled bashrc in your bash_profile.

At any time you can alter the specified path to the pipenv executable in the project settings. In the Settings/Preferences dialog (Ctrl+Alt+S), navigate to Tools | Python Integrated Tools, and type the target path in the Path ot Pipenv executable field.

After the preparation steps are done, you can use pipenv to create a virtual environment for new or existing projects.

Set pipenv for a new Python project

  1. Initiate creating a new Python project as described in Creating an empty Python project.

  2. In the right-hand pane click New to create a new project SDK.

  3. In the left-handed pane of the Add Python Interpreter dialog, select Pipenv.

  4. If you have added the user base’s binary directory to your PATH environmental variable, you don't need to set any additional options: the path to the pipenv executable will be autodetected.

    Path to the pipenv executable is autodetected
  5. Click OK to complete the task.

  6. If you have not modified the PATH variable, IntelliJ IDEA shows an error message: Pipenv executable is not found. Discover the proper executable path as described in the pipenv installation procedure and enter the target string in the Pipenv executable field, for example: C:\Users\jetbrains\AppData\Roaming\Python\Python37\Scripts\pipenv.exe (Windows) or /Users/jetbrains/.local/bin/pipenv (macOS).

    Click OK to save the changes and complete the task.

You can also set up pipenv for any of your earlier created projects.

Configure pipenv for an existing Python project

  1. Ensure that the Python plugin is installed and enabled.

  2. Navigate to File | Project Structure Ctrl+Alt+Shift+S.

    Adding a new SDK
  3. In the Project Structure dialog, select SDKs under the Platform Settings section, click Add a new SDK, and from the popup menu, choose Python SDK.

    Adding a new Python SDK
  4. In the left-hand pane of this dialog, click Pipenv Environment.

    Adding a Pipenv environment
  5. If you have added the user base’s binary directory to your PATH environmental variable, you don't need to set any additional options: the path to the pipenv executable will be autodetected.

    If you see the Pipenv executable is not found error message, follow the pipenv installation procedure to discover the executable path and add it to the Pipenv executable field.

  6. Click OK to complete the task.

Once all the steps are done, the new pipenv environment is set for your project and the packages listed in the Pipfile are installed.

If you open a project with a Pipfile file added but no any interpreter configured, IntelliJ IDEA offers you to use Pipenv environment.

Pipenv inspection

If you select this option, IntelliJ IDEA sets pipenv for you automatically. Alternatively, you can click Configure Python interpreter to follow the standard workflow.

Similarly, when you open a project with a Pipfile file in IntelliJ IDEA for the very first time, for example, by checking it out from the Version Control, the Pipenv virtual environment will be configured automatically.

When you have set the Pipenv virtual environment as a Python interpreter, all available packages are added from the source defined in Pipfile . The packages are installed, removed, and updated in the list of the packages through pipenv rather than through pip.

For any of the configured Python interpreters (but Docker-based), you can:

Last modified: 10 August 2022