pixi-global

Install a package globally and add to path

$ pixi global install [package1 package2 ...]

$ pixi global remove [package1 package2 ...]

$ pixi global list

$ pixi global upgrade [package]

$ pixi global upgrade-all

pixi-global [OPTIONS] <COMMAND> [ARGS]...

-h, --help
    Print help information

-V, --version
    Print version information

-v, --verbose
    Increase logging verbosity (repeatable)

-q, --quiet
    Reduce logging verbosity (repeatable)

--json-output, -j
    Output in JSON format

--lockfile
    Path to the lockfile (auto-detected)

--platform <PLATFORM>
    Target platform (e.g., linux-64)

--channel <CHANNEL>
    Add package channel (repeatable)

--index-url <URL>
    PyPI index URL for pip packages

--python <VERSION>
    Python version constraint

--host-mode
    Use host Python/Node/etc. if available

--clean-install
    Remove unused packages on install

The pixi-global command is a dedicated binary provided by Pixi, a fast Rust-based package and environment manager for reproducible workflows in data science, ML, and HPC. It simplifies operations on the global Pixi project, located at ~/.local/share/pixi/global (Linux/macOS) or equivalent on Windows.

Unlike the standard pixi command, which targets project-specific environments, pixi-global always operates on this shared global environment. This makes it ideal for installing and managing cross-project tools like compilers, Git, curl, or runtimes (e.g., Python, Node.js) without repeating global flags or paths.

It supports all subcommands from pixi, including init, install, remove, run, shell, build, task, and more. Pixi resolves dependencies from Conda-Forge, PyPI, CRAN, and other channels, locking them in pixi.lock for reproducibility.

Global installs are activated via shell hooks or shims, ensuring tools are available system-wide. It's cross-platform, lockfile-based, and faster than traditional Conda/Mamba.

Global environment affects all projects; use cautiously to avoid version conflicts. Not all options (e.g., --project) apply as path is fixed. Requires Pixi ≥0.23.

pixi-global init
Initializes global project.

pixi-global install python=3.12 git
Installs Python 3.12 and Git globally.

pixi-global shell
Activates global shell.

pixi-global run -- python -c 'print(1)'

Project root: ~/.local/share/pixi/global
Lockfile: pixi.lock
Environment: .pixi/env

Introduced in Pixi v0.23.0 (early 2024) by Prefix.dev as a convenience binary. Evolved from pixi global subcommand in prior versions; Pixi itself launched in 2023 as a faster Conda alternative.

pixi(1), mamba(1), conda(1), micromamba(1)