---
title: Install the Python API
description: Install the Python API for the latest version of Qiskit Fermions
source: https://quantum.cloud.ibm.com/docs/en/addons/qiskit-fermions/install-py
---

# Install the Python API

## Prerequisites

First, create a minimal environment with only Python installed in it. Use [Python virtual environments](https://docs.python.org/3.10/tutorial/venv.html).

```sh
python3 -m venv /path/to/virtual/environment
```

Activate your new environment.

```sh
source /path/to/virtual/environment/bin/activate
```

There are two primary ways to install this package: from PyPI or from source. The preferred method is to install from PyPI:

## Install from PyPI

```sh
pip install qiskit-fermions
```

## Install from source

If you plan to develop in the repository you should install from source.

First, Qiskit must be installed in the same Python environment that you install `qiskit-fermions` in. The simplest way to do this is from PyPI, but you can install Qiskit from source if you want to.

```console
$ pip install qiskit
```

Next, clone the `qiskit-fermions` repository.

```sh
git clone git@github.com:Qiskit/qiskit-fermions.git
```

Now, install the Rust toolchain, upgrade pip, and enter the repository. Refer to the [Rust documentation](https://www.rust-lang.org/tools/install) for instructions on installing the toolchain.

```sh
### <INSTALL RUST HERE> ###
pip install --upgrade pip
cd qiskit-fermions
```

Install the remaining `build` dependencies. If you plan on developing in the repository, install the `dev` dependencies.

```sh
pip install --group build
pip install --group dev  # optional
```

The next step is to install `qiskit-fermions` to the virtual environment.

```sh
pip install .
```

> **Hint**
>
> You can also perform an editable install while still compiling the underlying Rust crate in `release` mode:
>
> ```sh
> SETUPTOOLS_RUST_CARGO_PROFILE=release pip install -e .
> ```

> **Hint**
>
> Some features rely on optional dependencies. To install all of them, use the `all` extra:
>
> ```sh
> pip install ".[all]"
> ```
>
> Refer to the `[project.optional-dependencies]` section of [pyproject.toml](https://github.com/Qiskit/qiskit-fermions/blob/main/pyproject.toml) to see which dependency groups are available.

You can optionally verify that the installation was successful. The simplest test is to try and import one of the classes provided by the `qiskit-fermions` package, as in the following example:

```sh
python -c "from qiskit_fermions.circuit import FermionicCircuit"
```

If this completes successfully, your installation worked.

> **Hint**
>
> You can also run the entire Python test suite:
>
> ```sh
> pip install --group test
> make testpython
> ```
>
> To additionally run the tests that exercise optional dependencies, install the extras and use the `testoptional` target:
>
> ```sh
> pip install -e ".[all]"
> make testoptional
> ```