I read some articles about using a virtual environment in Docker. Their argument are that the purpose of virtualization in Docker is to introduce isolation and limit conflicts with system packages etc.

However, aren’t Docker and Python-based images (e.g., python:*) already doing the same thing?

Can someone eli5 this whole thing?

  • sweng@programming.dev
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    3
    ·
    11 days ago

    Upgrading the base image does not imply updating your python, and even updating your python does not imply updating your python packages (except for the standard libraries, of course).

    • uthredii@programming.dev
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      1
      ·
      11 days ago

      Sure, but in the case where you upgrade python and it affects python packages it would affect global packages and a venv in the same way.

      • sweng@programming.dev
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        1
        ·
        11 days ago

        Sure If that happens. But it may also not. Which is actually usually the case. Sure, it’s not 100% safe, but it is safer.