Using venv for MicroPython #10255

saraverbeecke · 2022-12-17T11:52:58Z

saraverbeecke
Dec 17, 2022

Hi,
I'm using the new mip tool to install some libs and it works great, but does anyone know if we can create a virtual env like we use to do for standard python: python -m venv my_virtual_env?
I don't want to mess up my global unix port of micropython and instead use separate virtual envs for my MicroPython projects...
Any help/tips welcome!
Thanks!

Answered by dlech

Dec 17, 2022

I think you can run mip with the --target option to install packages to a specific directory, then set the MICROPYPATH environment variable to that path before running micropython.

View full answer

dlech · 2022-12-17T16:30:05Z

dlech
Dec 17, 2022
Sponsor

I think you can run mip with the --target option to install packages to a specific directory, then set the MICROPYPATH environment variable to that path before running micropython.

1 reply

saraverbeecke Dec 18, 2022
Author

Thanks! I wasn't aware of this option yet :-)

jimmo · 2022-12-19T03:48:30Z

jimmo
Dec 19, 2022
Maintainer

We provide a micro version of the venv library in MicroPython lib that you can install on the unix port. You can install this via mip. We are considering making it included by default in the unix port.

So:

# install venv package globally
$ micropython -m mip install venv
# create a new venv
$ micropython -m venv venv-path
# enter venv (same as in CPython)
$ . venv-path/bin/activate
$ # now inside micropython venv
...
$ deactivate

2 replies

saraverbeecke Dec 19, 2022
Author

Wow that is even more interesting! Is there some sort of mip freeze command to create a requirements.txt file?

jimmo Jan 12, 2023
Maintainer

There isn't.

I am planning the opposite which is a way to consume a requirements.txt file or equivalent (i.e. manifest.py).

adrianblakey · 2025-11-04T14:19:06Z

adrianblakey
Nov 4, 2025

Is there an issue with this?

Do I need to do something other than setting PYTHONPATH to enable micropython to find the modules in ~/.micropython/lib

 micropython -v
MicroPython v1.26.1 on 2025-09-11; darwin [Clang 17.0.0] version
Use Ctrl-D to exit, Ctrl-E for paste mode
>>> 


micropython -m mip install venv
Installing venv (latest) from https://micropython.org/pi/v2 to /Users/ajb/.micropython/lib
Copying: /Users/ajb/.micropython/lib/argparse.mpy
Copying: /Users/ajb/.micropython/lib/requests/__init__.mpy
Copying: /Users/ajb/.micropython/lib/mip/__init__.mpy
Copying: /Users/ajb/.micropython/lib/mip/__main__.mpy
Copying: /Users/ajb/.micropython/lib/venv/__main__.mpy
Done

PYTHONPATH=/Users/ajb/.micropython/lib
micropython -m venv venv-micro
ImportError: no module named 'venv.__main__'

1 reply

jonnor Nov 9, 2025
Collaborator

PYTHONPATH is for CPython. The MicroPython path is affected by MICROPYPATH.

Josverl · 2025-11-04T21:11:20Z

Josverl
Nov 4, 2025
Collaborator Sponsor

Documentation is lacking but with a little help from our helmed friend:

install the venv module:
micropython -m mip install venv
Run this command with the unix port binary:
micropython -m venv myenv
Activate the virtual environment:
source myenv/bin/activate

This sets up environment variables so invoking 'micropython' will use your venv's configuration.
( no paths needed from here on )

Install packages into the venv:
micropython -m mip install iperf3
inspect the venv

$ tree myenv
myenv
├── bin
│   ├── activate
│   └── micropython
└── lib
    └── iperf3.mpy

2 directories, 3 files

4 replies

adrianblakey Nov 5, 2025

I tried again on MacOS - still get this issue …

micropython -m mip install venv
Installing venv (latest) from https://micropython.org/pi/v2 to /Users/ajb/.micropython/lib
Exists: /Users/ajb/.micropython/lib/argparse.mpy
Exists: /Users/ajb/.micropython/lib/requests/__init__.mpy
Exists: /Users/ajb/.micropython/lib/mip/__init__.mpy
Exists: /Users/ajb/.micropython/lib/mip/__main__.mpy
Exists: /Users/ajb/.micropython/lib/venv/__main__.mpy

micropython -m venv myenv
ImportError: no module named 'venv.__main__’

which micropython
/opt/homebrew/bin/micropython

micropython -v
MicroPython v1.26.1 on 2025-09-11; darwin [Clang 17.0.0] version
Use Ctrl-D to exit, Ctrl-E for paste mode
>>> 

echo $MICROPYPATH $PYTHONPATH
/Users/ajb/.micropython/lib /Users/ajb/.micropython/lib

echo $SHELL
/bin/bash

Josverl Nov 6, 2025
Collaborator Sponsor

Sorry, no access to a Mac to repro, feel free to send one 😁

jonnor Nov 9, 2025
Collaborator

You seem to have a file /Users/ajb/.micropython/lib/venv/main.mpy - so you need to debug why that does not appear in the import path.
The import path is accessible as sys.path from within (Micro)Python.

aivarannamaa Nov 9, 2025

What does sys.implementation say? Does it have _mpy field?

MicroPython

Using venv for MicroPython #10255

Uh oh!

saraverbeecke Dec 17, 2022

Replies: 4 comments · 8 replies

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dlech Dec 17, 2022 Sponsor

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saraverbeecke Dec 18, 2022 Author

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jimmo Dec 19, 2022 Maintainer

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saraverbeecke Dec 19, 2022 Author

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jimmo Jan 12, 2023 Maintainer

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adrianblakey Nov 4, 2025

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jonnor Nov 9, 2025 Collaborator

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Josverl Nov 4, 2025 Collaborator Sponsor

Uh oh!

adrianblakey Nov 5, 2025

Uh oh!

Josverl Nov 6, 2025 Collaborator Sponsor

Uh oh!

jonnor Nov 9, 2025 Collaborator

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aivarannamaa Nov 9, 2025

saraverbeecke
Dec 17, 2022

Replies: 4 comments 8 replies

dlech
Dec 17, 2022
Sponsor

saraverbeecke Dec 18, 2022
Author

jimmo
Dec 19, 2022
Maintainer

saraverbeecke Dec 19, 2022
Author

jimmo Jan 12, 2023
Maintainer

adrianblakey
Nov 4, 2025

jonnor Nov 9, 2025
Collaborator

Josverl
Nov 4, 2025
Collaborator Sponsor

Josverl Nov 6, 2025
Collaborator Sponsor

jonnor Nov 9, 2025
Collaborator