How to change the name of a virtual environment

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Changing the name of a virtual environment is not actually a straightforward operation because the name of the virtual environment is often referenced in multiple places, including scripts and configuration files. However, there are several ways to achieve a similar effect:

Method 1: Rename the folder (not recommended)

1. Shut down the virtual environment : If the virtual environment is currently active, shut it down first.

   deactivate
   

2. Rename Folder : Rename the virtual environment's folder directly in the file system.

3. Activate new virtual environment : Reactivate the virtual environment with a new name.

   Note : This approach may cause problems because some paths may have been hardcoded in the virtual environment's configuration files or scripts.

Method 2: Create a new virtual environment and copy the dependencies

1. Export current dependencies : In the old virtual environment, export all installed packages to a requirements.txtfile.

   pip freeze > requirements.txt
   

2. Create a new virtual environment : Create a new virtual environment with a new name.

   python -m venv new_venv_name
   

3. Activate new virtual environment : Activate the newly created virtual environment.

4. Install dependencies : Use requirements.txtthe file to install all dependencies.

   pip install -r requirements.txt
   

5. Delete the old virtual environment : If everything is fine, you can choose to delete the old virtual environment.

This is a more secure and reliable method because it does not involve directly modifying the existing virtual environment.

Method 3: Using virtualenvwrapper(Linux and macOS only)

If you are using Linux or macOS, virtualenvwrapperthere is a command provided cpvirtualenvthat can be used to copy a virtual environment, including all its dependencies and settings.

cpvirtualenv old_venv_name new_venv_name

Choose the method that works for you and follow the steps accordingly. If you have additional questions or require further clarification, please feel free to ask.