PyCharm Create and Manage Projects

In PyCharm, a project is the most basic unit of work, containing source code, configuration, dependencies, and environment settings.

This section details how to create and manage Python projects in PyCharm.

1. Creating a New Project

1.1 Creating from the Welcome Screen

PyCharm actually provides many shortcuts at startup:

The screen on first launch is as follows:

Click "New Project".

You can also click "New Project" under "File" in the menu bar.

Configure project settings:

Location:Select and set the project storage path and name.

Interpreter:Project venv (recommended).

venv is a module in Python used to create and manage virtual environments. A virtual environment is an isolated space that allows you to install and manage Python packages without affecting other Python environments on your system.

venv is a standard library in Python 3.3 and above, so no additional tools need to be installed to use it.

  • Project venv: The virtual environment is stored by default in the venv folder within the project directory.
  • Base Conda (if Anaconda/Miniconda is installed)
  • Custom environment

Project template:

  • Select the project type, such as "Pure Python" or "Flask" (for web development).
  • A main.py file is created by default, containing a simple Python code template (e.g., print("Hello, World!")).

1.2 Creating a Project from Existing Code

If you already have Python code, you can import it in the following ways:

Welcome screen → "Open", select the project directory, orFile → Open, select the project folder.

PyCharm will automatically detect the Python environment; if it is not found, you can manually configure the interpreter.

2. Project Management

2.1 Project Structure

PyCharm's default project structure is as follows:

my_project/  
├── .idea/          # PyCharm 配置文件（如运行配置、版本控制设置）  
├── venv/           # 虚拟环境（如果使用 Virtualenv）  
├── main.py         # 示例代码（如果勾选了 "创建 main.py"）  
└── 其他文件/目录     # 用户创建的代码文件

⚠️ Note: .idea/ and venv/ usually do not need to be manually modified; PyCharm manages them automatically.

2.2 Configuring the Python Interpreter

If the project needs to change its Python environment (e.g., from Python 3.8 to 3.10):

File → Settings → Project → Python Interpreter (Windows/Linux: Ctrl+Alt+S, macOS: ⌘,).

Click ⚙️ → Add Interpreter, then select:

  • Virtualenv(recommended)

  • System Python(use global Python directly)

  • Conda environment(if using Anaconda)

Select the Python version and click "OK".

2.3 Run/Debug Configurations

PyCharm allows you to set different run modes for different scripts:

  • Top toolbar → Run Configurations → "Edit Configurations"。

  • Click+, selectPython, configure:

    • Script path: select the file to run.pyfile.

    • Python interpreter: make sure to select the correct environment.

    • Parameters: you can enter command-line arguments (such as--port 8000）。

  • Click"Apply", then you can click▶️ Runor🐞 Debug。

3. Common Project Operations

3.1 Opening Multiple Projects

PyCharm defaults to single-project mode (only one project can be open at a time), but you can manage multiple projects in the following ways:

  1. File → New → Project, create a new project (PyCharm will prompt whether to open in a new window).

  2. orFile → Open, select another project directory.

3.2 Closing/Reopening Projects

  • Close the current project：文件 → 关闭项目（File → Close Project）, return to the welcome screen.

  • Reopen a recent project: the welcome screen will display"Recent Projects", click it to reopen.

3.3 Project Dependency Management (requirements.txt / pyproject.toml)

PyCharm can automatically detectrequirements.txtorpyproject.tomland install dependencies:

Right-click requirements.txt → "Sync Python Requirements".

Or run in the terminal (Terminal):

pip install -r requirements.txt

If you want to export the current environment's dependencies:

pip freeze > requirements.txt

4. Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: PyCharm cannot recognize Python files?

  • Check the file extension: make sure it is a.pyfile.

  • Check the interpreter configuration：文件 → 设置 → Python 解释器, make sure it is set correctly.

Q2: How to delete a project?

PyCharm does not delete project files automatically; you need to do it manually:

  1. Close the project（File → Close Project）。

  2. Delete the project folder in a file manager (such as Windows Explorer)。

Q3: How to back up/share a project?

  • Recommended approach: use Git (PyCharm has built-in Git support).

  • Manual approach: copy the project folder (but it is recommended to exclude.idea/andvenv/）。

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