How do I allow pip inside anaconda3 venv when pip set to require virtualenv?

Question

I've just rebuilt my mac environment using the tutorials here:

https://hackercodex.com/guide/mac-development-configuration/ & here: https://hackercodex.com/guide/python-development-environment-on-mac-osx/

I want to require a virtualenv for pip, and have set that by opening:

vim ~/Library/Application\ Support/pip/pip.conf

and adding:

[install]
require-virtualenv = true

[uninstall]
require-virtualenv = true

Then, I followed a guide to set up jupyter notebooks w/tensorflow, because I am trying to follow a udemy course on machine learning that requires both: https://medium.com/@margaretmz/anaconda-jupyter-notebook-tensorflow-and-keras-b91f381405f8

During this tutorial, it mentions that you should use pip install instead of conda install for tensorflow, because the conda package isn't officially supported.

I can install pip on conda just fine by running:

conda install pip

But when I try to run:

pip3 install tensorflow

I get the error:

"Could not find an activated virtualenv (required)."

I know why I'm getting this error, I just don't know how to change my code to ALSO accept use of pip & pip3 inside anaconda venvs.

My anaconda3 folder is inside my Virtualenvs folder, along with all of my other virtual environments.

I've tried temporarily turning off the restriction by defining a new function in ~/.bashrc:

cpip(){
PIP_REQUIRE_VIRTUALENV="0" pip3 "$@"
}

and using that instead, with no luck, not surprisingly.

I think the problem may be here, inside my bash_profile:

# How to Set Up Mac For Dev:
# https://hackercodex.com/guide/mac-development-configuration/
# Ensure user-installed binaries take precedence
export PATH=/usr/local/bin:$PATH
# Load .bashrc if it exists
test -f ~/.bashrc && source ~/.bashrc


# Activate Bash Completion:
if [ -f $(brew --prefix)/etc/bash_completion ]; then
    source $(brew --prefix)/etc/bash_completion
fi


# Toggle for installing global packages:
gpip(){
   PIP_REQUIRE_VIRTUALENV="0" pip3 "$@"
}
# Toggle for installing conda packages:
cpip(){
   PIP_REQUIRE_VIRTUALENV="0" pip3 "$@"
}
# Be sure to run "source ~/.bash_profile after toggle for changes to
take effect.
# Run "gpip install" (i.e. "gpip install --upgrade pip setuptools
wheel virtualenv")


# added by Anaconda3 2018.12 installer
# >>> conda init >>>
# !! Contents within this block are managed by 'conda init' !!
__conda_setup="$(CONDA_REPORT_ERRORS=false
'/Users/erikhayton/Virtualenvs/anaconda3/bin/conda' shell.bash hook
2> /dev/null)"
if [ $? -eq 0 ]; then
    \eval "$__conda_setup"
else
    if [ -f
"/Users/erikhayton/Virtualenvs/anaconda3/etc/profile.d/conda.sh" ];
then
        .
"/Users/erikhayton/Virtualenvs/anaconda3/etc/profile.d/conda.sh"
        CONDA_CHANGEPS1=false conda activate base
    else
        \export
PATH="/Users/erikhayton/Virtualenvs/anaconda3/bin:$PATH"
    fi
fi
unset __conda_setup
# <<< conda init <<<

I want to be able to use pip (& pip3, pip2) in both (& only in) anaconda3's activated 'env's and virtualenvs.

score 2 · Answer 1 · answered Jan 19 '19 at 04:46

When you conda install pip , a new pip is placed inside your anaconda virtualenv's bin/ directory. Each pip knows whether/which virtualenv it's inside of, and each pip only installs packages inside its own virtualenv. You can run it like /Users/erikhayton/Virtualenvs/anaconda3/bin/pip install tenserflow

You can know where pip3 is by running which pip3.

When you activate a virtualenv, environment variables in your shell are being modified. The virtualenv's bin/ directory is placed in your PATH. If you run /Users/erikhayton/Virtualenvs/anaconda3/bin/activate and then which pip3, you'll see a different path.

See also Using Pip to install packages to Anaconda Environment

Solid response. running "which pip3" is helpful, but let me clarify my problem a bit. I can get a virtualenv activated, and I can activate a jupyter notebook if I'm in my base path, or if I create a env inside anaconda3. My problem is, I'm trying to force pip to install only when a virtualenv is present, but it won't work with anaconda's venv's. How do I make it work with both? — Haytorade, Jan 19 '19 at 06:29

score 0 · Answer 2 · answered Jan 19 '19 at 03:58

Usually when you use virtual environments, you need to activate them first before you can use them. Somewhere along the line, you would have needed to run a command to create your virtual environment:

virtualenv awesome_virtualenv

Then to make it active:

cd ~/Virtualenvs/awesome_virtualenv
source bin/activate
pip3 install tensorflow  # this will install TensorFlow into your awesome_virtualenv

You can create as many virtual environments as you want and install different sets of libraries in each.

I forgot to add that step to the question. I did activate the virtual environments within anaconda, but am still unable to do a "pip install". — Haytorade, Jan 19 '19 at 08:01

How do I allow pip inside anaconda3 venv when pip set to require virtualenv?

2 Answers2