How to Solve Error Message You must source this script: $ env/bin/activate when activating Python Virtual Environment

Introduction

This is an article where the main focus is just to solve an error message. Actually, the command which is triggering an error message is an attempt to activate a python virtual environment. There are several steps which is basically modifying the command for activating the python virtual environment. This is an attempt for activating python virtual environment in a server or a machine running using a Linux operating system.It is a python virtual environment exist where the process for creating the python virtual environment exist as follows :

[django@localhost sites]$ virtualenv env
created virtual environment CPython3.6.8.final.0-64 in 580ms
creator CPython3Posix(dest=/home/django/sites/env, clear=False, no_vcs_ignore=False, global=False)
seeder FromAppData(download=False, pip=bundle, setuptools=bundle, wheel=bundle, via=copy, app_data_dir=/home/django/.local/share/virtualenv)
added seed packages: pip==21.3.1, setuptools==58.3.0, wheel==0.37.0
activators BashActivator,CShellActivator,FishActivator,NushellActivator,PowerShellActivator,PythonActivator
[django@localhost sites]$

[django@localhost sites]$ cd env/bin/
[django@localhost bin]$ ls
activate activate.fish activate.ps1 deactivate.nu pip3 pip3.6 python3 wheel wheel-3.6
activate.csh activate.nu activate_this.py pip pip-3.6 python python3.6 wheel3 wheel3.6
[django@localhost bin]$

Attempt to activate Python Virtual Environment

So, the following are the steps or the attempt where it is trying to activate a python virtual environment.

1. Modifying the activate script by adding executable permission as follows :

   [django@localhost bin]$ chmod +x activate
   

2. Finally, another attempt is just by executing it user the ‘sh’ command as follows :

   [django@localhost bin]$ cd ..
   [django@localhost env]$ cd ..
   [django@localhost sites]$ cd ..
   [django@localhost ~]$ sh sites/env/bin/activate
   You must source this script: $ source sites/env/bin/activate
   [django@localhost ~]$
   

   Unfortunately, it ends in a failure.

3. It is actually another variety command using ‘./’ but along with several path to the python virtual environment activation file as follows :

   [django@localhost ~]$ ./sites/env/bin/activate
   You must source this script: $ source ./sites/env/bin/activate
   [django@localhost ~]$ cd sites/env/bin/
   

   The above command also ends in a failure.

4. Using the ./ with the python virtual environment activation file directly as follows :

   [django@localhost ~]$ cd sites/env/bin/
   [django@localhost bin]$ ./activate
   You must source this script: $ source ./activate
   [django@localhost bin]$
   

   Once more, it is not working at all. Try to use another alternative command below.

5. Using the sh command with the python virtual environment activation file as follows :

   [django@localhost bin]$ sh activate
   You must source this script: $ source activate
   [django@localhost bin]$ cd ..
   [django@localhost env]$ cd ..
   [django@localhost .sites]$ cd ..
   [django@localhost ~]$
   

   Again, it is wrong and it is not working at all.

6. Last but not least, the one which is working exist as follows :

   [django@localhost ~]$ . sites/env/bin/activate
   (env) [django@localhost ~]$
   

So, the working command is just by using the command as follows :

 . + path_from_the_current_working_directory_to_the_activate_file/ + activate

As an example in the above command exist as follows :

 . sites/env/bin/activate