Setting up Python for PyFlink

Before you can use Flink with the Python API, it is required to install and configure Python on every relevant node, or create and initialize a Python virtual environment.

Installing Python
Creating Python venv

Connect to the Flink Gateway node using CLI.
```
ssh root@[***FLINK GATEWAY NODE***]
```
You are prompted to provide your password to the cluster.
Check the version of Python.
```
python --version
```
If the command fails or the versions are lower than 3.6, install Python.
Create a python virtual environment using the following command:
```
conda create --copy -y -n flink_venv python=3.8
```
Install PyFlink using the following command:
```
python -m pip install apache-flink==1.18.0
```
Install PyFlink on the YARN NameNode as well using the same steps.

Connect to the Flink Gateway node using CLI.
```
ssh root@[***FLINK GATEWAY 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.