Systemd Unit for running python application in virtualenv

README.md

Assumptions

• Username is user
• User is in group user
• User's home is /home/user
• Python application is in /home/user/pythonapp
• Python script is named start.py
• Virtual environment is /home/user/.virtualenvs/pythonapp created with python -m venv /home/user/.virtualenvs/pythonapp

You can add multiple Environment lines if you need more env-variables

How to use it

• Usually systemd unit goes to /etc/systemd/system/pythonapp.service
• Reload systemd after changing unit files: systemctl daemon-reload
• Enable units by systemctl enable pythonapp
• Start with systemctl start pythonapp
• Stdout and Stderr will go to the system journal: journalctl -xeu pythonapp to view

pythonapp.service

[Unit]
Description=Sample Python Application
After=network.target

[Service]
type=exec
Environment=EXAMPLE_ENV=bla
WorkingDirectory=/home/user/pythonapp
ExecStart=/home/user/.virtualenvs/pythonapp/bin/python /home/user/pythonapp/start.py
Restart=always
User=user
Group=user

[Install]
WantedBy=multi-user.target