How to avoid reinstalling the same Python libraries for every new project in PyCharm?

Question

How to avoid reinstalling the same Python libraries for every new project in PyCharm?

Answer

In PyCharm, Python libraries are installed for the selected Python interpreter and are not global for the entire IDE. When new projects create new virtual environments, you must install required libraries (e.g., pandas, numpy) in each virtual environment. To reuse Python dependencies across multiple projects in PyCharm without reinstalling them every time?

1. Reuse an existing interpreter or virtual environment across projects:

   • Go to Settings | Python | Interpreter, or use the interpreter selector in the status bar.
   • Select an existing interpreter that already has the necessary libraries installed.
   • Alternatively, when creating a new virtual environment, check the Make available to all projects option.

2. Create a virtual environment that inherits global packages:

   • During the creation of a new virtual environment, enable the option Inherit packages from base interpreter. This setup allows your new virtual environment to access packages installed in your global interpreter.

3. Use a requirements.txt or a pyproject.toml file:

   • Create a requirements.txt file listing all required libraries or use a pyproject.toml file.
   • This method ensures reproducibility across projects and makes dependency management more efficient.

For more detailed steps, here are some helpful resources:

• Creating Virtual Environments in PyCharm
• Settings for Reusing Workspace Configuration