# Using Virtual Environments with Lambda Stack **URL:** \ **Category:** Uncategorized\ **Created:** [August 22, 2018, 5:30pm UTC](https://deeptalk.lambda.ai/t/using-virtual-environments-with-lambda-stack/454 "2018-08-22T17:30:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Johann](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/deeptalk.lambda.ai/johann/32/596_2.png) [@Johann](https://deeptalk.lambda.ai/u/Johann)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2018, 5:30pm UTC](https://deeptalk.lambda.ai/t/using-virtual-environments-with-lambda-stack/454/1 "2018-08-22T17:30:45Z")
I am using the Tensorbook, which comes with the preinstalled libraries as part of the Lambda Stack, but I don’t want to be developing in the root environment and want to create a new Virtual Environment. Is there a best practices for this, or commands, or recommended process to get the Lambda Stack for virtual environments? ---
**Author:** ![sabalaba](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/deeptalk.lambda.ai/sabalaba/32/4_2.png) [@sabalaba](https://deeptalk.lambda.ai/u/sabalaba)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2018, 9:49pm UTC](https://deeptalk.lambda.ai/t/using-virtual-environments-with-lambda-stack/454/2 "2018-08-22T21:49:13Z")
We’re still establishing the best practices. There are two main choices I see: 1. Use Lambda Stack as an easy way to install your Drivers, CUDA, CuDNN, etc. 2. Use Lambda Stack’s version of TensorFlow / PyTorch. If you decide to go for type 1, you’ll simply install Lambda Stack and then create your virtualenv like this: ``` virtualenv -p python3 your_venv ``` If you decide to go for type 2, you’ll install Lambda Stack and then create your virtualenv like this: ``` virtualenv --system-site-packages -p python3 your_venv ``` Essentially in type 2 you’ll be using our TensorFlow / PyTorch packages and type 1 you’ll be installing them yourself. ---
**Author:** ![msuttles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@msuttles](https://deeptalk.lambda.ai/u/msuttles)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2019, 4:50pm UTC](https://deeptalk.lambda.ai/t/using-virtual-environments-with-lambda-stack/454/3 "2019-08-12T16:50:28Z")
Since this is from about a year ago, I wondered if you could update if there are now best practices for virtual environments? Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![saurabh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@saurabh](https://deeptalk.lambda.ai/u/saurabh)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2020, 6:19pm UTC](https://deeptalk.lambda.ai/t/using-virtual-environments-with-lambda-stack/454/4 "2020-11-13T18:19:19Z")
Are there any updates on this? ---
**Author:** ![rneely](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a183cd/32.png) [@rneely](https://deeptalk.lambda.ai/u/rneely)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2021, 6:07pm UTC](https://deeptalk.lambda.ai/t/using-virtual-environments-with-lambda-stack/454/5 "2021-07-08T18:07:01Z")
@sabalaba Thank you. If we use the 2nd option: virtualenv --system-site-packages -p python3 your\_venv and then install additional packages from an additional requiremnts.txt file would the additional packages be installed in the venv, or where system site packages are installed? I have a lambda-labs tensor book. We want to use Data Science cookie cutter for our project: [Home - Cookiecutter Data Science](https://drivendata.github.io/cookiecutter-data-science/) which suggests, as a best practice, to have a separate python venv for each project. ---
**Author:** ![rajatalak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/dec6dc/32.png) [@rajatalak](https://deeptalk.lambda.ai/u/rajatalak)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2021, 3:46pm UTC](https://deeptalk.lambda.ai/t/using-virtual-environments-with-lambda-stack/454/6 "2021-09-15T15:46:10Z")
Is there a way to do this (option 2) using IDE like PyCharm? ---
**Author:** ![markd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/839c29/32.png) [@markd](https://deeptalk.lambda.ai/u/markd)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2021, 8:39pm UTC](https://deeptalk.lambda.ai/t/using-virtual-environments-with-lambda-stack/454/7 "2021-10-25T20:39:00Z")
@rajatalak ajatalak Here is the two ways that PyCharm seems to support VirtualEnv: 1. It can use a existing virtualenv 2. It can create a virtualenv Documents at: [Configure a virtual environment | PyCharm Documentation](https://www.jetbrains.com/help/pycharm/creating-virtual-environment.html#python_create_virtual_env) Mark ---
**Author:** ![wgiersche](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/deeptalk.lambda.ai/wgiersche/32/594_2.png) [@wgiersche](https://deeptalk.lambda.ai/u/wgiersche)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2022, 2:46am UTC](https://deeptalk.lambda.ai/t/using-virtual-environments-with-lambda-stack/454/8 "2022-09-12T02:46:27Z")
Is there any way to achieve the same with pipenv? ---
**Author:** ![markd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/839c29/32.png) [@markd](https://deeptalk.lambda.ai/u/markd)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2022, 6:13am UTC](https://deeptalk.lambda.ai/t/using-virtual-environments-with-lambda-stack/454/9 "2022-09-15T06:13:45Z")
It should be pretty much the same. (but below are the ones we have written up) We have documented this for: - Docker - [NVIDIA NGC Tutorial: Run a PyTorch Docker Container using nvidia-container-toolkit on Ubuntu](https://lambdalabs.com/blog/nvidia-ngc-tutorial-run-pytorch-docker-container-using-nvidia-container-toolkit-on-ubuntu/) - python venv - [https://lambdalabs.com/blog/p/120e0f36-3dc2-4164-be0d-9c80705017e7/](https://lambdalabs.com/blog/p/120e0f36-3dc2-4164-be0d-9c80705017e7/) - virtualenv - [https://lambdalabs.com/blog/p/8060fba4-4ab4-464c-a829-d8fc917fcb1a/](https://lambdalabs.com/blog/p/8060fba4-4ab4-464c-a829-d8fc917fcb1a/) - Anaconda/miniconda - [Setting up environments: Anaconda](https://lambdalabs.com/blog/setting-up-a-anaconda-environment/) (I missed the step in this that I installed cuDNN or you could use the anaconda path). \* Anaconda is missing a step of setting the LD\_LIBRARY\_PATH for its cuDNN so that needs to be manually done. (The following will fix that): export LD\_LIBRARY\_PATH=${CONDA\_PREFIX}/lib:${LD\_LIBRARY\_PATH} I hope that helps