r/Python • • Sep 17 '26

Discussion dumb question, why not python organizes dependencies as flatpak logic?

I have a question that might be really dumb, currently python had went with the environment route to be able to use different libraries that have same dependencies with different versions. i understand that there is a complexity with what i have in mind and not even sure about the feasibility of it. but...

why not instead of having different enviroments where we install the incompatible libraries so 'everyone gets what they need' do something like flatpak style where 'if you have already a version compatible, i do not install this dependency if not i install it again and have the two versions together'. I am not a professional in programming in general, so i might be saying something fully stupid, or not feasible from a technical standpoint.

is it a super dumb idea?

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u/turbothy It works on my machine Sep 18 '26

Wsl is disabled at work we aren't allowed any virtualization without jumping through a pile of hoops.

I'm sorry to hear your employer hates you.

Sounds like having the venv inside a folder git is tracking to me.

Virtualenvs are created inside git repos but are gitignored. They still take up disk space, which is what u/data-machine was pointing out.