Is there a way for change default python like pyenv global or local?

[gunungpw]

Hello new python user here, is there a way for hatch to control default python when typing in terminal?
like pyenv command global or local
global -> will change default version python to selected version in global use
local -> will change default version python in selected directory

[gunungpw]

from the documentation there are no way to change default python in windows system

[ofek]

There is no way other than manual management of your PATH. However, I would question the usefulness of selecting a global default distribution for manual use. I dislike the approach taken by pyenv because users often break their setups by modifying the distribution (like installing packages) rather than creating virtual environments from them.

You made me think of something however: would it be useful to you if there was a command where you could drop in to a temporary virtual environment to hack on stuff and then exiting would remove it?

[flying-sheep]

That reminds me of two things:

1. jupyter notebooks
2. pipx + PEP 723 support

[gunungpw]

Thank you @ofek honestly I want to change Python version that I want to use for my project/virtual environment, sometimes the latest Python version (3.12) doesn't support some packages like pygame, etc.
I want to help a friend with simple steps, like

• cd project or mkdir project
• chose your 'ideal' python version (hatch python local 3.10) prompt/waning user to install the python version if the version does not exist in person machine
• make an environment/project with this Python version (hatch new my-project)
• Open the virtual env (hatch shell)
• Install package that you need, that fulfills constraints with python version (hatch add pygame) -> for this step Im not sure if hatch have this command in documentation that i read. i think this feature is very useful for beginner and my friend thatt doesn't want to use many tool like pip to manage the package install. Some way like poetry add and pdm add or rye add command is very useful for us beginner to install package without touch pip or pyproject.toml
• also command for listing every virtual env with the location of the env and python excetutable is very nice touch to setting vscode python interpreter. poetry have this command poetry env info and poetry env list

[gunungpw]

Also for a beginner who doesn't understand Python project and packaging jargon, I think easy small step will help them understand the thinking process when making a project in Python from choosing the appropriate python, use virtual env, install package, and exit the shell

[gunungpw]

It is honestly tiring to debug my friend's problem when installing package that doesn't support latest python version yet, Its not about the steps but the extra explanation that need to be share to make them understand the error massage from pip and what version that support that package now

[gunungpw]

and if the solution is to edit the pyproject.toml, I will be sad :(
But thank you for your hard work @ofek, your project will definitely help many new users that just started programming in Python.
I hope I can help with the documentation like example for every command because I do not have software engineering or CS background so every example for command in hatch --help is very useful
small example;

Usage: hatch python install [OPTIONS] NAMES...

  Install Python distributions.

  You may select `all` to install all compatible distributions:

  ```
  hatch python install all
  ```

Options:
  --private       Do not add distributions to the user PATH
  -u, --update    Update existing installations
  -d, --dir TEXT  The directory in which to install distributions, overriding configuration
  -h, --help      Show this message and exit.

I do not know what NAME is?, it is format in python 3.12 or cpython3.12 or python3.12 or 3.12 or python@3.12 like in rye, or many permutations like that.
Maybe I miss it in the docs but I don't see it, I just guess/trial and error, it will be sad if my friends need to guess it too or open a browser with relevant keywords to search in Google.

Help message that have example how to use the command like this will help new users to python

Usage: hatch python install [OPTIONS] NAMES...
Example: hatch python install 3.10

[gunungpw]

Do the docs for hatch cli automated?
Do I just need to edit the docs (.rst, .md) or make change in source code
Thank you once again, I hope you have I nice day