What python virtual environment and deployment solution should I use?

Question

I'm looking for a virtual environment solution for Python applications and I would like something that respects these requirements:

• Windows and Linux
• works with x86/x64 Python versions
• easy to use/maintain
• Python 2.6-2.7 compatible and preferably even 3.x
• source control friendly - I want to keep the packages in SCM.

So far I identified virtual-python and zc.buildout, but at least buildout does not supports py3. I'm not looking for a list of solutions, only one you recommend, preferably after you used more than one.

Answer 1

Either virtualenv or zc.buildout will work. Virtualenv is easier to learn and use; buildout is more powerful. I personally use buildout for development/deployment of packages I develop, and virtualenv for deployment of 3rd-party applications (like Trac).

Disclaimer: I've never attempted to use either on Windows, or on Python 3. I see that there's a version of virtualenv that works in Python 3, and there's a branch of zc.buildout that attempts to add Python 3 support (but it seems to be abandoned).