# Python Virtual Environment

**URL:** <https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/python-virtual-environment/53102>\
**Category:** Ignition\
**Tags:** python\
**Created:** [November 15, 2021, 10:32pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/python-virtual-environment/53102 "2021-11-15T22:32:57Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![CTavakoli](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/278dde/32.png) [@CTavakoli](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/CTavakoli)\
**Post date:** [November 15, 2021, 10:32pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/python-virtual-environment/53102/1 "2021-11-15T22:32:57Z")

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I have a 3rd party SDK which only works with certain versions of certain packages (e.g. pandas , scikit, etc.). If outside the Ignition, I create a virtual environment, import the sdk with its dependencies and it works fine.

I am wondering, if possible at all, what is the workflow to do the same and make use of this sdk inside ignition?

Thanks for the help.

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**Author:** ![Kevin.Herron](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/kevin.herron/32/7259_2.png) [@Kevin.Herron](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/Kevin.Herron)\
**Post date:** [November 15, 2021, 10:59pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/python-virtual-environment/53102/2 "2021-11-15T22:59:23Z")

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While there is somewhat limited support for importing 3rd party Python libraries, there’s nothing equivalent to what you have with virtual env.

[https://docs.inductiveautomation.com/display/DOC81/Libraries#Libraries-Importing3rdPartyLibraries](https://docs.inductiveautomation.com/display/DOC81/Libraries#Libraries-Importing3rdPartyLibraries)

Were your example dependencies just examples? If not, your 3rd party library probably won’t work at all, because you can’t use any libraries that require CPython.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![CTavakoli](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/278dde/32.png) [@CTavakoli](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/CTavakoli)\
**Post date:** [November 16, 2021, 4:13pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/python-virtual-environment/53102/3 "2021-11-16T16:13:38Z")

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Thank you @Kevin.Herron for the reply. They are unfortunately actual dependencies (numpy, pandas, sklearn, tensorflow …).  
I guess then I have to run it in parallel and exchange data with ignition somehow.

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**Author:** ![bkarabinchak.psi](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/bkarabinchak.psi/32/83567_2.png) [@bkarabinchak.psi](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/bkarabinchak.psi)\
**Post date:** [November 16, 2021, 4:16pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/python-virtual-environment/53102/4 "2021-11-16T16:16:09Z")

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> [@CTavakoli](#):
>
> I guess then I have to run it in parallel and exchange data with ignition somehow.

Couple of ways to do that. You can connect your external system to the same database Ignition is connected to. Or create a API that you hit from Ignition via [system.net.\*](https://docs.inductiveautomation.com/display/DOC80/system.net) functions. Or inverse that and create an API in Ignition via the WebDev module that your external system hits. These I think are the easiest ways if feasible.