How to Choose the Right Virtual Environment Strategy in Python

Keeping the Virtual Environment Inside the Project Folder ✅ (Most Common & Recommended for Individual Projects)

Folder Structure:

E:\Projects\Streamlit\Data_cleaning_and_visualization\
│── venv\                    <-- Virtual environment (inside project folder)
│── app.py
│── data.csv
│── visualization.py
│── requirements.txt

Pros

1. Keeps everything self-contained (easier to move the project).

2. No confusion about which virtual environment belongs to which project.

3. Easier for teams & deployment—just zip and share the project.

4. No need to navigate multiple parent directories.

Cons

1. If you have many projects, each project will have a separate venv, taking up extra space.

2. Harder to use a shared virtual environment across multiple projects.

Keeping the Virtual Environment Separate from the Project Folder ✅ (Best for Multiple Projects with Shared Dependencies)

Folder Structure:

E:\Projects\Streamlit\
│── myvenv\                  <-- Virtual environment (outside project folder)
│── Data_cleaning_and_visualization\   <-- Project folder
│   ├── app.py
│   ├── data.csv
│   ├── visualization.py
│   ├── requirements.txt

Pros:

1. Keeps the project folder clean (no virtual environment inside).

2. Virtual environment can be reused across multiple projects if dependencies are similar.

3. Avoids cluttering the project with unnecessary environment files.

Cons:

1. If you have many projects, you’ll have many venv folders outside—can be confusing to track which venv belongs to which project.

2. Moving the project requires setting up the venv separately again on another machine.

3. If different projects need different dependencies, sharing a venv is not ideal.

Using a Parent Directory for All Projects (With a venv Inside Each Project Folder) ✅ (Best for Large Workspaces with Many Projects)

Folder Structure:

E:\Projects\Streamlit_Projects\   <-- Parent directory for multiple projects
│── Project1\
│   ├── venv\                     <-- Virtual environment (inside each project)
│   ├── app.py
│   ├── requirements.txt
│── Project2\
│   ├── venv\                     <-- Separate venv for each project
│   ├── main.py
│   ├── requirements.txt
│── Project3\
│   ├── venv\                     <-- Another separate venv
│   ├── script.py

Pros

1. Keeps multiple projects organized under a parent directory.

2. Each project has its own isolated environment, preventing dependency conflicts.

3. Easy to find projects and their corresponding virtual environments.

Cons

1. If you have many projects, disk space usage increases since each project has its own venv.

2. Some developers may prefer a shared venv for lightweight projects instead of having multiple venvs.

Best Practice Recommendation (Based on Your Needs)

1. If you’re working on one project at a time & want portability:
   Use Option 1 (Keep venv inside the project folder).

2. If you have multiple projects with shared dependencies:
   Use Option 2 (Keep venv outside the project folder but in the same directory).

3. If you want an organized workspace with a parent directory for multiple projects:
   Use Option 3 (Parent directory for projects, each with its own venv).