To set up a Python 3.12 environment, I encountered the following error when creating a new virtual environment with Pipenv and running pipenv install:

Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "<my-env>/.venv/bin/pip", line 5, in <module>
    from pip._internal.cli.main import main
  File "<my-env>/.venv/lib/python3.12/site-packages/pip/_internal/cli/main.py", line 9, in <module>
    from pip._internal.cli.autocompletion import autocomplete
  File "<my-env>/.venv/lib/python3.12/site-packages/pip/_internal/cli/autocompletion.py", line 10, in <module>
    from pip._internal.cli.main_parser import create_main_parser
  File "<my-env>/.venv/lib/python3.12/site-packages/pip/_internal/cli/main_parser.py", line 8, in <module>
    from pip._internal.cli import cmdoptions
  File "<my-env>/.venv/lib/python3.12/site-packages/pip/_internal/cli/cmdoptions.py", line 23, in <module>
    from pip._internal.cli.parser import ConfigOptionParser
  File "<my-env>/.venv/lib/python3.12/site-packages/pip/_internal/cli/parser.py", line 12, in <module>
    from pip._internal.configuration import Configuration, ConfigurationError
  File "<my-env>/.venv/lib/python3.12/site-packages/pip/_internal/configuration.py", line 20, in <module>
    from pip._internal.exceptions import (
  File "<my-env>/.venv/lib/python3.12/site-packages/pip/_internal/exceptions.py", line 7, in <module>
    from pip._vendor.pkg_resources import Distribution
  File "<my-env>/.venv/lib/python3.12/site-packages/pip/_vendor/pkg_resources/__init__.py", line 2164, in <module>
    register_finder(pkgutil.ImpImporter, find_on_path)
                    ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
AttributeError: module 'pkgutil' has no attribute 'ImpImporter'. Did you mean: 'zipimporter'?

In this case, running

% python3 -m ensurepip --upgrade

is likely to solve the issue. It is advisable to do this both in the system global python environment and within the virtual environment.

However, since the Pipenv environment was problematic, I decided to recreate the Pipenv environment from scratch.

Checking the System Environment

Checking the Default Version of Python3 (Mac)

Without entering the virtual environment (venv):

% which python3
/opt/homebrew/bin/python3

% python3 --version
Python 3.11.6

It shows that /opt/homebrew/bin/python3 is being used and it's Python 3.11.

Checking the Version of Python Used by Pipenv

Without entering the virtual environment (venv):

% which pipenv
/opt/homebrew/bin/pipenv

% head /opt/homebrew/bin/pipenv
#!/opt/homebrew/opt/python@3.9/bin/python3.9
# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
import re
import sys
from pipenv import cli
...

The Pipenv is set to use Python 3.9.

Since the version of Python used by Pipenv and the default Python version are different, this could cause complications. Therefore, I decided to configure Pipenv to use the default Python 3.11.

Reinstalling System Global Pipenv

Uninstalling via Homebrew

% brew uninstall pipenv
Error: No such keg: /opt/homebrew/Cellar/pipenv

It was not installed via Homebrew.

Deleting the File

It's likely installed via Python 3.9's pip.

In hindsight, running

% /opt/homebrew/opt/python@3.9/bin/python3.9 -m pip uninstall pipenv

might have cleanly uninstalled it. However, since I intended to recreate it in the Python 3.11 environment, I just deleted it manually.

% rm /opt/homebrew/bin/pipenv

Reinstalling Pipenv Using the Default Python3 in the System Global Environment

% python3 -m pip install pipenv

Verifying the Installation Result

% which pipenv
/opt/homebrew/bin/pipenv

The file that was deleted has been regenerated as expected.

% head /opt/homebrew/bin/pipenv
#!/opt/homebrew/opt/python@3.11/bin/python3.11
# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
import re
import sys
from pipenv import cli
...

It is now using Python 3.11, as expected.

For Good Measure, Running Ensurepip Upgrade in the System Global Python Environment

% python3 -m ensurepip --upgrade

Creating the Virtual Environment

Notes on creating a Pipenv environment with Python 3.12:

Pipfile

[[source]]
name = "pypi"
url = "https://pypi.org/simple"
verify_ssl = true

[dev-packages]

[packages]


[requires]
python_version = "3.12"

After creating this file, run

% python3 -m pipenv install

As long as the first line (shebang) of head $(which pipenv) matches the path of the python shown by which python3, you can also run

% pipenv install

Entering the Virtual Environment

% python3 -m pipenv shell

Testing pip Within the Virtual Environment

Inside the virtual environment, run:

python3 -m pip freeze

or

pip freeze

to check for any errors.

If the error

  File "<my-env>/.venv/lib/python3.12/site-packages/pip/_internal/cli/main_parser.py", line 8, in <module>
    from pip._internal.cli import cmdoptions
  File "<my-env>/.venv/lib/python3.12/site-packages/pip/_internal/cli/cmdoptions.py", line 23, in <module>
    from pip._internal.cli.parser import ConfigOptionParser
  File "<my-env>/.venv/lib/python3.12/site-packages/pip/_internal/cli/parser.py", line 12, in <module>
    from pip._internal.configuration import Configuration, ConfigurationError
  File "<my-env>/.venv/lib/python3.12/site-packages/pip/_internal/configuration.py", line 20, in <module>
    from pip._internal.exceptions import (
  File "<my-env>/.venv/lib/python3.12/site-packages/pip/_internal/exceptions.py", line 7, in <module>
    from pip._vendor.pkg_resources import Distribution
  File "<my-env>/.venv/lib/python3.12/site-packages/pip/_vendor/pkg_resources/__init__.py", line 2164, in <module>
    register_finder(pkgutil.ImpImporter, find_on_path)
                    ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
AttributeError: module 'pkgutil' has no attribute 'ImpImporter'. Did you mean: 'zipimporter'?

appears, try running

% python3 -m ensurepip --upgrade

while inside the virtual environment.