How do I install a python-based CLI from a venv globally?

Question

I'm developing a CLI application with Python and I can install it with pip install -e . for an editable install, however this installs it only in the virtual environment. I can't access the CLI from things like Ubuntu's custom keyboard shortcuts, or Thunar's custom keyboard shortcuts.

I can install everything globally instead, but this causes package version conflicts.

How can I expose my CLI globally, in an editable way, while managing dependencies in an isolated environment?

Do I need some wrapper script, manually added to the PATH, or is there a pip option for this?

You can ‘hack’ in a callable wrapper via symlink into /usr/local/bin yourself, or create an executable script, using your pyproject.toml file. The latter will create the wrapper for you on pip install <myproject>. — s3dev
– s3dev, Commented Jun 9 at 7:06
This RealPython tutorial provides an example of how to create an executable script. — s3dev
– s3dev, Commented Jun 9 at 7:14
I already have an executable script set up. The problem is it is only exposed within a virtual environment if installed within a virtual environment. — 1j01
– 1j01, Commented Jun 9 at 16:07

sinoroc · Accepted Answer · 2025-06-09 19:13:48Z

0

Ignoring the mechanism of installing the program, it sounds like what you're trying to do is run a program in a venv without having that venv activated first.

If that's right, the simplest approach is a shell script to execute the program from within the virtual environment. Something like this:

#!/usr/bin/env bash
exec $HOME/program-venv/bin/the-program "$@"

Then add that shell script to your PATH.

edited Jun 9 at 19:13

sinoroc

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answered Jun 9 at 5:52

evil otto

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1 Comment

phd Jun 9 at 6:38

stackoverflow.com/a/30541898/7976758 There is no need to activate a virtual env in a bash script; running under the proper Python from the venv is enough. I.e., a proper shebang in $HOME/program-venv/bin/the-program or running $HOME/program-venv/bin/python $HOME/program-venv/bin/the-program does the trick because virtual environments are implemented inside Python interpreter, not in activation script. All the activation script does is set $PATH so that $HOME/program-venv/bin/python is in the $PATH.

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