pyenv/pyenv

This project is a command-line tool designed to manage multiple isolated language runtime versions on a single development machine. It enables users to install, switch between, and maintain different runtime versions, ensuring that project-specific requirements are met without conflicting with system-wide software.

The tool distinguishes itself through a shim-based execution environment that intercepts system calls and dynamically routes them to the correct runtime version based on the current directory. By traversing the file system hierarchy to locate configuration files, it automatically applies the appropriate environment for each project. It also supports source-based compilation, allowing users to build runtimes directly on their host operating system to ensure compatibility and meet specific performance needs.

Beyond core version management, the project provides a modular plugin architecture that supports custom command authoring and community-maintained extensions. This framework facilitates a wide range of tasks, including build process configuration, dependency migration, and integration with virtual environment tools. It also includes built-in diagnostic utilities to assist with troubleshooting common installation issues, such as dependency management and library configuration conflicts.

The software is designed for UNIX-like systems and is configured by initializing the shell environment to prioritize managed shim directories.