Setting up Python for PyFlink

Before you can use Flink with the Python API, you need to create and initialize a Python virtual environment.

Connect to the Flink Gateway node using CLI.
```
ssh <[***WORKLOAD USERNAME***]>@[***FLINK MANAGER NODE***]
```
Provide your workload password when prompted.
Create a Python virtual environment using the following command:
```
conda create --copy -y -n flink_venv python=3.8
```
important
--copy is essential so the created Python environment contains all the required files, not just symlinks.
Activate the newly created virtual environment:
```
conda activate flink_venv
```
Install PyFlink to the flink_venv virtual environment using the following command:
```
python -m pip install apache-flink==1.18.0
```
Create a ZIP archive from the flink_venv virtual environment so it can be deployed with a Flink job:
```
cd path/to/flink_venv && zip -r venv.zip .
```
note
Zipping the virtual environment in its root folder makes the deployment paths shorter and more straightforward.

When the Python installation is complete, you can submit Flink application that were created using the Python API.

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