Global installation of Python apps

Python applications are Python software that should not be used as a Python library. These can be:

• CLI: Command-line interface

  Examples: pip, black, pytest, httpie, youtube-dl,

• TUI: Terminal User Interface.

  Examples: Bpytop, Posting, ...

• GUI: Graphical User Interface.

  Examples: Dropbox client, Spyder, ...

As for other type of software, one can use package manager specific to the OS (like apt, WinGet, ...) or installers provided by the maintainers of the software (see for example https://docs.spyder-ide.org/current/installation.html).

However, it is also very convenient to use modern tools as UV and Pixi, which install application in a dedicated environment (Python or conda, respectively).

Examples with UV

uv tool install httpie

# specify other packages to be installed in the venv & Python version
uv tool install "mercurial<7" --with hg-git,hg-evolve,certifi -p 3.13

Examples using Pixi

Pixi installs conda packages.

# multiple tools at once
pixi global install pixi-pack rattler-build

# ipython with matplotlib and pandas
pixi global install ipython --with matplotlib --with pandas

# even better!
pixi global install --environment jupyter-ipython \
  --expose jupyter --expose ipython --expose jupyter-lab \
  jupyter numpy pandas matplotlib ipython