A virtual environment is a self-contained Python setup, isolated from other environments. It gives a project its own package installation so one project’s dependencies do not collide with another’s. section 2.2
Create and activate one before installing Django. Once active, `python -m pip install django` installs Django into that environment rather than making it available across the whole system. section 2.2
A typical project setup is:
- Create a project directory and run `python3.12 -m venv ./venv`. section 2.2
- Activate it with `source venv/bin/activate`; the shell prompt shows `(venv)`. section 2.2
- Install Django, then use `django-admin` to create the project skeleton. section 2.2
RiffMates$ source venv/bin/activate #1 (venv) RiffMates$ python -m pip install django #2
The commands show activation followed by a Django installation inside the active environment. section 2.2
