📝 docs(faq): document Debian python3-venv limitation#3789
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gaborbernat merged 1 commit intotox-dev:mainfrom Feb 20, 2026
Merged
📝 docs(faq): document Debian python3-venv limitation#3789gaborbernat merged 1 commit intotox-dev:mainfrom
gaborbernat merged 1 commit intotox-dev:mainfrom
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On Debian/Ubuntu the system Python excludes venv/ensurepip, which breaks tools like pyproject-build that use stdlib venv internally. tox itself is unaffected since it uses virtualenv, but users hit confusing errors from commands running inside tox environments.
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On Debian and Ubuntu the system Python splits
venvandensurepipinto a separatepython3-venvpackage. tox itself is unaffected — it usesvirtualenvwhich bundles its own bootstrap — but tools that tox runs as commands inside environments (most commonlypyproject-build) may use stdlibvenvinternally and fail with a confusing "ensurepip is not available" error.This adds a "Known limitations" entry in the concepts documentation explaining the root cause and providing two solutions: installing
python3-venv, or usingtox-uvto bypass stdlibvenventirely.Closes #3195