Goodbye Dependency Headaches: Discover the Power of Pipx for Python Package Management

Episode #21: Escape Python dependency hell with Pipx by creating an isolated virtual environment for each application.

Escaping the dependency hell with Pipx - Generated with Midjourney

If you have been a Software Developer as long as I have (more than ten years now), you might have encountered dependency hell at some point in your career.

If you haven't (lucky you), let me introduce the concept:

Dependency hell describes the complex web of software dependencies that can arise, making it challenging to install, update, or run applications due to version conflicts and compatibility issues. It is a common problem in software development and deployment, especially across different platforms and ecosystems.

As the term describes, it is not a great state of mind.

Software Engineers have written entire programming languages and countless tools out of the frustration of dealing with some sort of dependency hell.

In this article, I would like to describe my recent experience of dependency hell in Python and how I solved the problem once and for all—at least, I hope.

I'll introduce a tiny tool called Pipx, which allows you to install a CLI Python application (and its dependency) in a totally isolated virtual environment, avoiding any dependency conflict.

I’ll explain how to use Pipx and what are its benefits over Pip and other similar tools.

This article is specifically tailored for Python developers, both experienced and inexperienced.

Whether you're a seasoned pro or just starting out, the insights and solutions I'll be sharing can be invaluable in your Python development journey.

As a Python developer, I hope you can gain valuable insights from this article that you might apply at some point in your career, further enhancing your skills and knowledge.

In this article:

• Meaning of the front page image

• 💰 (paid content) My encounter with Pipx

• 💰 (paid content) What is Pipx?

• 💰 (paid content) Pip vs Pipx

• 💰 (paid content) How to get started

• 💰 (paid content) Example usage

• 💰 (paid content) Pipx run

Meaning of the front page image

When exploring a Midjourney prompt for this article, I wanted to convey the concept of "Dependency Hell".

What better metaphor for Dependency Hell than a sea of lava?

So, a Python snake avoids the sea of lava (the dependency hell) by crawling over a precarious tree log hanging above it.

I generated the above picture with Midjourney using the prompt below.

A vibrant, comic-book inspired image of a green Python snake slithering across a weathered log, its head tilted curiously as it navigates a fiery, lava-filled chasm beneath.

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Giuseppe Santoro

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My encounter with Pipx

My first (and most horrific) experience of dependency hell goes back to the time that I was writing Java code early on in my professional career.