Requirements.txt

As explained in Build Applications with Local AI Models on a Mac

A requirements.txt file is a dependency specification file that lists packages and the versions required by a Python project.

python3.13 -m venv .venv       #1
source .venv/bin/activate   #2
pip install -r requirements.txt   #3

How Build Applications with Local AI Models on a Mac covers it

How deep it goes

Shows how to generate the file and restore its listed package versions.

Examples

Uses requests in a practice environment and ollama and streamlit in a chatbot environment.

What it assumes

Assumes packages have been installed in a virtual environment; demonstrates creating and activating one in the workflow.

What you can do after

Operate pip to record dependencies and rebuild an environment from the file.

How it connects

Connects pip commands with Python virtual environments.

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Also explained in

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  liveBookmanning.com
  Road to KubernetesA requirements file is a text configuration file that lists Python packages and optionally their required versions for installation.
• 

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  Build Financial Software with Generative AI (From Scratch)requirements.txt is a conventional Python configuration file that declares installable package dependencies and, optionally, their versions.
• 

  liveBookmanning.com
  Build a Reasoning Model (From Scratch)A file listing Python package dependencies to install for a project.

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Related concepts

• dependencyconfigures · A software dependency is a component, resource, or prerequisite on which another software component or operation relies to function or proceed.
• pipused by · pip is Python’s standard package installer, a command-line tool for installing and managing Python packages and their dependencies.
• packageconfigures · A software package is a named grouping of modules or components, often with related resources and metadata, organized for import, reuse, distribution, or management.
• versionconfigures · A version is a distinct, identifiable state or revision of an artifact, system, or product.
• manifest filekind of · A manifest file is a machine-readable document that declares metadata, configuration, contents, or resources associated with a software artifact, application, or collection.

This explainer was generated by Manning's knowledge graph from the text of Build Applications with Local AI Models on a Mac. The section links point to the parts of the book it draws on.