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pipx

Installs and runs Python command-line apps in their own isolated environments.

GitHub Download 1.18.11
Stars
13k
Forks
632
Licence
MIT
Language
Python
Last update
6 days ago
Type
CLI

What it is

pipx is a command-line tool for installing Python applications so that each one gets its own separate environment. This keeps an app's dependencies from clashing with each other or with your system Python. People use it to install Python tools they want to run from the terminal without managing virtual environments by hand.

  • Install a Python command-line application so it is available system-wide without affecting other Python projects
  • Run a Python application once without leaving it installed
  • Keep several Python CLI tools that need conflicting dependencies on the same machine

Great for

  • Developers who install Python command-line tools like linters or formatters
  • People who want global Python tools kept separate from project dependencies
  • Users who need to run a Python app once without permanently installing it

Not ideal for

  • People who need to import Python libraries into their own code, since pipx is meant for applications, not libraries (use a virtual environment or a package manager for that)
  • Users with no Python installed and no interest in Python tooling
Step-by-step guide: how to use pipxInstall, first run, examples, tips and FAQs

How to get it

  1. 1

    Install with a package manager

    You'll need: Python 3

    Clone the repository

    git clone https://github.com/pypa/pipx
  2. 2

    Run it

    • Install pipx following the instructions in the project README or on https://pipx.pypa.io
    • Run pipx install with the name of a Python application to install it in its own environment
    • Run the installed application from your terminal
  3. 3

    Get the most out of it

    • Use the homepage at https://pipx.pypa.io for the full documentation
    • Check the project's release notes for the latest version (1.18.9 is listed as the latest release)

Downloads

Source code (.zip)main branch · straight from GitHubRelease 1.18.111 files incl. pipx.pyzOfficial website & docspipx.pypa.io

Strengths

  • Isolates each application's dependencies so they do not conflict
  • Makes Python command-line tools available from the terminal without manual virtual environment setup
  • Free, MIT-licensed, and maintained under the Python Packaging Authority (PyPA)

Trade-offs

  • Only suited to applications; it does not replace virtual environments for project development
  • The README provided is truncated, so details of setup on each operating system could not be verified here

How it compares

ProjectStarsTypeLevelUpdatedBest for
pipx (this)13kCLIbeginner6 days agoDevelopers who install Python command-line tools like linters or formatters
UniGetUI26.8kAppbeginner4 days agoWindows users who already use WinGet, Scoop or Chocolatey and want one place to manage them
pipenv25kDev toolbeginner5 days agoPython application developers who want one command set for environments and dependencies
pip10.3kDev toolbeginner4 days agoPython developers who need to install and manage third-party libraries
sqlfluff10kDev toolbeginner5 days agoData engineers maintaining dbt or ELT SQL projects

Stats synced from GitHub. The assessment above was drafted with AI from the project's README on 2026-10-29 and may miss recent changes — check the README before relying on a command. MIT licence: free to use, modify and distribute, including commercially, as long as you keep the copyright notice.