Getting Started

Getting Started with pipx

This tutorial covers the core pipx workflow: installing an application, running it, and managing it. You need pipx installed before continuing.

Install your first application

Pick a small package to try. pycowsay works well:

pipx install pycowsay

pipx creates an isolated virtual environment for pycowsay, installs it there, and links the pycowsay command into a directory on your PATH. Run it from anywhere:

pycowsay "Hello, pipx!"

List installed applications

pipx list

The output shows the virtual environment location, exposed commands, and the Python version each package uses.

Run an application without installing

pipx run executes an application in a temporary environment and cleans up after itself:

pipx run pycowsay moooo!

Upgrade an installed application

pipx upgrade pycowsay

Or upgrade everything at once:

pipx upgrade-all

Uninstall an application

pipx uninstall pycowsay

pipx deletes the isolated environment and removes the command from your PATH.

Next steps

Continue with the install applications and run applications tutorials for a closer look at the two core commands. The how-to guides cover tasks like injecting packages and configuring paths. The full CLI reference documents every flag.