less invasive strategy

src/virtualenv/create/pyenv_cfg.py

@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 from __future__ import annotations
 
 import logging
+import os
 from collections import OrderedDict
 
 
@@ -32,7 +33,8 @@ def write(self):
         logging.debug("write %s", self.path)
         text = ""
         for key, value in self.content.items():
-            line = f"{key} = {value}"
+            normalized_value = os.path.realpath(value) if value and os.path.exists(value) else value
+            line = f"{key} = {normalized_value}"
             logging.debug("\t%s", line)
             text += line
             text += "\n"

src/virtualenv/discovery/py_info.py

@@ -32,9 +32,8 @@ class PythonInfo:  # noqa: PLR0904
     """Contains information for a Python interpreter."""
 
     def __init__(self) -> None:  # noqa: PLR0915
-        def real_path(v):
-            # unroll relative elements from path (e.g. ..) and ensure symbolic links are resolved
-            return None if v is None else os.path.realpath(v)
+        def abs_path(v):
+            return None if v is None else os.path.abspath(v)  # unroll relative elements from path (e.g. ..)
 
         # qualifies the python
         self.platform = sys.platform
@@ -54,16 +53,16 @@ def real_path(v):
         self.os = os.name
 
         # information about the prefix - determines python home
-        self.prefix = real_path(getattr(sys, "prefix", None))  # prefix we think
-        self.base_prefix = real_path(getattr(sys, "base_prefix", None))  # venv
-        self.real_prefix = real_path(getattr(sys, "real_prefix", None))  # old virtualenv
+        self.prefix = abs_path(getattr(sys, "prefix", None))  # prefix we think
+        self.base_prefix = abs_path(getattr(sys, "base_prefix", None))  # venv
+        self.real_prefix = abs_path(getattr(sys, "real_prefix", None))  # old virtualenv
 
         # information about the exec prefix - dynamic stdlib modules
-        self.base_exec_prefix = real_path(getattr(sys, "base_exec_prefix", None))
-        self.exec_prefix = real_path(getattr(sys, "exec_prefix", None))
+        self.base_exec_prefix = abs_path(getattr(sys, "base_exec_prefix", None))
+        self.exec_prefix = abs_path(getattr(sys, "exec_prefix", None))
 
-        self.executable = real_path(sys.executable)  # the executable we were invoked via
-        self.original_executable = real_path(self.executable)  # the executable as known by the interpreter
+        self.executable = abs_path(sys.executable)  # the executable we were invoked via
+        self.original_executable = abs_path(self.executable)  # the executable as known by the interpreter
         self.system_executable = self._fast_get_system_executable()  # the executable we are based of (if available)
 
         try: