uv should install packages without requiring a venv

[radupotop]

I'm installing packages inside a Docker container (via a Dockerfile) and wish to install them globally so that they're always available. This should be similar to running pip with root privileges. Unfortunately uv pip install doesn't let me install packages without an existing venv created via uv venv.

error: Failed to locate a virtualenv or Conda environment (checked: `VIRTUAL_ENV`, `CONDA_PREFIX`, and `.venv`). Run `uv venv` to create a virtualenv.      

This prevents the subsequent Python commands from running correctly. I have to source .venv/bin/activate for every docker RUN command.

RUN . $VIRTUAL_ENV/bin/activate \
    && python manage.py ...

Ideally uv would let me install packages globally.

Is there anything I can do to enable the venv globally? I've already set the VIRTUAL_ENV and the PATH env vars inside the Dockerfile.

Thanks.

[AlexWaygood]

Thanks for opening the issue and explaining the use case! Closing as a duplicate of #1526 / #1374

[kleinicke]

You can add a --system flag so it does not require a virtual environment.