> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://mintlify.com/prefix-dev/pixi/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# pixi global add

> Add dependencies to a global environment

The `pixi global add` command adds dependencies to an existing global environment and updates the global manifest.

## Usage

```bash theme={null}
pixi global add [OPTIONS] --environment <ENV> <PACKAGE>...
```

## Arguments

<ParamField path="PACKAGE" type="string" required>
  Package specification to add to the global environment. Can be:

  * Package name: `python`
  * Version constraint: `python=3.11.*`
  * MatchSpec: `python>=3.11,<3.12`

  Multiple packages can be specified.
</ParamField>

```bash theme={null}
pixi global add --environment python311 numpy pandas
pixi global add --environment tools ruff black
```

## Options

### Environment Selection

<ParamField path="--environment" type="string" required>
  Specifies the environment that dependencies should be added to.

  Short flag: `-e`

  The environment must already exist. Use `pixi global install` to create new environments.
</ParamField>

```bash theme={null}
pixi global add --environment myenv numpy
pixi global add -e python311 scipy
```

<Warning>
  If the environment doesn't exist, you'll receive an error:

  `Environment xyz doesn't exist. You can create a new environment with 'pixi global install'.`
</Warning>

### Expose Executables

<ParamField path="--expose" type="string">
  Add one or more mappings describing which executables are exposed.

  Format: `exposed_name=executable_name` or just `executable_name` (which becomes `executable_name=executable_name`).

  Can be specified multiple times.
</ParamField>

```bash theme={null}
pixi global add --environment python311 python --expose python3.11=python
pixi global add -e tools pytest --expose pytest
pixi global add -e myenv mypackage --expose tool1=bin1 --expose tool2=bin2
```

## Behavior

### Adding Dependencies

When you add dependencies to a global environment:

1. Dependencies are added to the global manifest
2. The environment is synced (packages are installed)
3. Executables are exposed based on `--expose` flags
4. Completions are updated (on Unix systems)

### Package Installation

The command installs or upgrades packages:

* **New packages**: Installed with their dependencies
* **Existing packages**: Upgraded to meet the new specification
* **Dependencies**: Automatically resolved and installed

### Executable Exposure

Exposed executables are made available system-wide:

* On Unix: Symlinked to `~/.pixi/bin/`
* On Windows: Added to PATH through shims

## Examples

### Add Single Package

```bash theme={null}
pixi global add --environment python311 numpy
```

Adds numpy to the python311 environment.

### Add Multiple Packages

```bash theme={null}
pixi global add --environment data-tools pandas matplotlib seaborn
```

Adds multiple data science packages at once.

### Add with Version Constraint

```bash theme={null}
pixi global add --environment myenv "python=3.11.*"
pixi global add -e tools "ruff>=0.1.0,<0.2"
```

Adds packages with specific version constraints.

### Add and Expose Executables

```bash theme={null}
pixi global add --environment python311 python --expose python3.11=python --expose python3=python
```

Adds Python and exposes it as both `python3.11` and `python3`.

### Add with Simple Exposure

```bash theme={null}
pixi global add --environment tools pytest --expose pytest
```

Exposes pytest using its default name.

### Add Multiple Packages with Exposure

```bash theme={null}
pixi global add --environment myenv pytest pytest-cov --expose pytest=pytest
```

Adds pytest and pytest-cov, exposing only the pytest executable.

## Common Use Cases

### Add Tools to Existing Environment

```bash theme={null}
# Create environment with Python
pixi global install --environment dev python=3.11

# Add development tools
pixi global add --environment dev black ruff mypy
pixi global add --environment dev pytest pytest-cov --expose pytest
```

### Upgrade Package Version

```bash theme={null}
# Upgrade to newer version
pixi global add --environment tools "ruff>=0.2.0"
```

This updates the constraint and upgrades the package if needed.

### Add Package with Multiple Exposed Names

```bash theme={null}
pixi global add --environment python311 python \
  --expose python3.11=python \
  --expose python3=python \
  --expose python=python
```

Exposes Python under multiple aliases.

## Error Handling

### Environment Doesn't Exist

Error: `Environment xyz doesn't exist`

Solution: Create the environment first:

```bash theme={null}
pixi global install --environment xyz python
pixi global add --environment xyz numpy
```

### Package Not Found

Error: `package 'numpyy' not found`

Solution: Check package name:

```bash theme={null}
pixi search numpy
pixi global add --environment myenv numpy
```

### Version Conflict

Error: `cannot satisfy version constraint`

Solution: Adjust version constraints or check compatibility:

```bash theme={null}
# Relax constraints
pixi global add --environment myenv "numpy>=1.20"
```

### Reversion on Error

<Note>
  If the add operation fails, pixi automatically reverts the environment to its previous state.
</Note>

## State Changes Reported

After a successful add, pixi reports:

* Packages added with versions
* Executables exposed
* Completions updated

Example output:

```text theme={null}
✅ Added numpy 1.26.0 to environment myenv
✅ Exposed python3.11 -> python
✅ Updated completions
```

## Comparison with Related Commands

### global add vs global install

* `pixi global install`: Creates a new environment or reinstalls existing one
* `pixi global add`: Adds dependencies to an existing environment

### global add vs add

* `pixi add`: Adds dependencies to workspace project
* `pixi global add`: Adds dependencies to global environment (user-level)

## Global Manifest Location

The global manifest is stored at:

* Unix: `~/.pixi/manifests/pixi-global.toml`
* Windows: `%USERPROFILE%\.pixi\manifests\pixi-global.toml`

## Config Options

<ParamField path="--tls-no-verify" type="boolean">
  Disable TLS certificate verification.
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="--auth-file" type="string">
  Path to authentication file.
</ParamField>

```bash theme={null}
pixi global add --environment myenv numpy --tls-no-verify
```

## See Also

* [pixi global install](/commands/global-install) - Install a new global environment
* [pixi global remove](/commands/global-remove) - Remove dependencies from environment
* [pixi global expose](/commands/global-expose) - Manage exposed executables
* [pixi global list](/commands/global-list) - List global environments