Python Virtual Environment

Getting an error trying to install python package:

python3 -m pip install ollama
<strong><mark style="background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)" class="has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color">error: externally-managed-environment</mark>
</strong>
× This environment is externally managed
╰─> To install Python packages system-wide, try brew install
    xyz, where xyz is the package you are trying to
    install.

    If you wish to install a Python library that isn't in Homebrew,
    use a virtual environment:

    <mark style="background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)" class="has-inline-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-color"><strong>python3 -m venv path/to/venv
    source path/to/venv/bin/activate
    python3 -m pip install xyz</strong></mark>

There are several ways to determine if a Python venv (virtual environment) is active: Terminal Prompt Indication.

When a virtual environment is active,
its name usually appears in parentheses at the beginning of your terminal prompt. 
For example: 
(my_env) user@hostname:~/project$ Check the VIRTUAL_ENV Environment Variable.

A virtual environment sets the VIRTUAL_ENV environment variable to the path of the active virtual environment. 
You can check its value in your terminal: Bash/Zsh (Linux/macOS).

        echo $VIRTUAL_ENV

PowerShell (Windows).

        Get-ChildItem Env:VIRTUAL_ENV

CMD (Windows).

        echo %VIRTUAL_ENV%

If this variable is set and points to your virtual environment’s directory, the venv is active. 
Check Python Executable Path.

You can check which Python interpreter is currently being used:

    which python

or

    python -c "import sys; print(sys.executable)"

If the output path includes the virtual environment’s directory (e.g., ~/project/my_env/bin/python), then the venv is active.

• Compare sys.prefix and sys.base_prefix (within Python):

Inside a Python script or interpreter, you can compare sys.prefix and sys.base_prefix. 
If they are different, it indicates that Python is running within a virtual environment.

Python

    import sys<br>    if sys.prefix != sys.base_prefix:<br>        print("Inside a virtual environment")<br>    else:<br>        print("Not in a virtual environment")