**General warning**: There are some systems where the `BASH_ENV` variable is configured
to point to `.bashrc`. On such systems you should almost certainly put the above-mentioned line
`eval "$(pyenv init -)"` into `.bash_profile`, and **not** into `.bashrc`. Otherwise you
may observe strange behaviour, such as `pyenv` getting into an infinite loop.
See [#264](https://github.com/pyenv/pyenv/issues/264) for details.
4. **Restart your login session for the changes to take effect.**
4. **Restart your login session for the changes to profile files to take effect.**
E.g. if you're in a GUI session, you need to fully log out and log back in.
E.g. if you're in a GUI session, you need to fully log out and log back in.
**In MacOS,** restarting terminal windows is enough (because MacOS runs shells
In MacOS, restarting terminal windows is enough (because MacOS runs shells
in them as login shells by default).
in them as login shells by default).
5. [**Install Python build dependencies**](https://github.com/pyenv/pyenv/wiki#suggested-build-environment) before attempting to install a new Python version.
5. [**Install Python build dependencies**](https://github.com/pyenv/pyenv/wiki#suggested-build-environment) before attempting to install a new Python version.
@ -445,30 +456,52 @@ profile is doing.
`pyenv init` is the only command that crosses the line of loading
`pyenv init` is the only command that crosses the line of loading
extra commands into your shell. Coming from RVM, some of you might be
extra commands into your shell. Coming from RVM, some of you might be
opposed to this idea. Here's what `pyenv init` actually does.
Step 1 is done by `eval "$(pyenv init --path)"`, the others are done by
`eval "$(pyenv init -)"`.
1. **Sets up your shims path.** This is the only requirement for pyenv to
function properly. You can do this by hand by prepending
`$(pyenv root)/shims` to your `$PATH`.
2. **Installs autocompletion.** This is entirely optional but pretty
useful. Sourcing `$(pyenv root)/completions/pyenv.bash` will set that
up. There is also a `$(pyenv root)/completions/pyenv.zsh` for Zsh
users.
3. **Rehashes shims.** From time to time you'll need to rebuild your
shim files. Doing this on init makes sure everything is up to
date. You can always run `pyenv rehash` manually.
4. **Installs the sh dispatcher.** This bit is also optional, but allows
pyenv and plugins to change variables in your current shell, making
commands like `pyenv shell` possible. The sh dispatcher doesn't do
anything crazy like override `cd` or hack your shell prompt, but if
for some reason you need `pyenv` to be a real script rather than a
shell function, you can safely skip it.
opposed to this idea.
Also see the [Environment variables](#environment-variables) section
for the environment variables that control Pyenv's behavior.
* `eval "$(pyenv init --path)"`:
1. **Sets up your shims path.** This is the only requirement for pyenv to
function properly. You can do this by hand by prepending
`$(pyenv root)/shims` to your `$PATH`.
`eval "$(pyenv init --path)"` is supposed to be run in your session's login
shell startup script -- so that all processes in the session get access to
Pyenv's functionality and it only runs once,
avoiding breaking `PATH` in nested shells
(e.g. shells started from editors/IDEs).
In Linux, GUI managers typically act as a `sh` login shell, running
`/etc/profile` and `~/.profile` at their startup. MacOS' GUI doesn't do that,
so its terminal emulator apps run their shells as login shells by default
to compensate.
* `eval "$(pyenv init -)"`:
1. **Installs autocompletion.** This is entirely optional but pretty
useful. Sourcing `$(pyenv root)/completions/pyenv.bash` will set that
up. There is also a `$(pyenv root)/completions/pyenv.zsh` for Zsh
users.
2. **Rehashes shims.** From time to time you'll need to rebuild your
shim files. Doing this on init makes sure everything is up to
date. You can always run `pyenv rehash` manually.
3. **Installs `pyenv` into the current shell as a shell function.**
This bit is also optional, but allows
pyenv and plugins to change variables in your current shell, making
commands like `pyenv shell` possible. The sh dispatcher doesn't do
anything crazy like override `cd` or hack your shell prompt, but if
for some reason you need `pyenv` to be a real script rather than a
shell function, you can safely skip it.
`eval "$(pyenv init -)"` is supposed to run at any interactive shell's
startup (including nested shells) so that you get completion and
convenience shell functions.
To see exactly what happens under the hood for yourself, run `pyenv init -`
To see exactly what happens under the hood for yourself, run `pyenv init -`