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Re: How nervous should I be using "pip3 install --break-system-packages ..."?

  • Subject: Re: How nervous should I be using "pip3 install --break-system-packages ..."?
  • From: Ron <ron [ at ] bclug [ dot ] ca>
  • Date: Wed, 19 Aug 2026 14:01:30 -0700
Rick Leir via linux wrote on 2026-08-19 10:59:
It's quite normal to use python virtual environments. Follow the instructions in that message, and make sure that your PATH includes path/to/venv/bin/ so that you are using the newer python and pip when you install sphinx and other new packages.

I agree with this, but want to add, the `venv` contains a file, `venv/bin/activate` which prepends the venv to your path for you. It needs to be sourced, it is not executable.

Your prompt will then show (venv), which is handy.

Then, `deactivate` will put the path back to normal.


An example of creating, activating, and deactivating a Python venv:

$ python -m venv venv
uid1@fishbowl [/tmp]
 └─» $ . venv/bin/activate
(venv) uid1@fishbowl [/tmp]
 └─» $ deactivate
uid1@fishbowl [/tmp]
 └─» $