Installing only Miniconda will encourage you to create separate environments for each project (and to install only those packages that you actually need for each project!) which will enhance portability and reproducibility of your research and workflows. I suggest installing Miniconda which combines Conda with Python 3 (and a small number of core systems packages) instead of the full Anaconda distribution.

the Anaconda Python distribution now has well more than 150 additional packages!). The Planemo documentation has an excellent diagram that nicely demonstrates the difference between the Conda environment and package management tool and the Miniconda and Anaconda Python distributions (N.B. Users are often confused about the differences between Conda, Miniconda, and Anaconda. With just a few commands, you can set up a totally separate environment to run that different version of Python, while continuing to run your usual version of Python in your normal environment. If you need a package that requires a different version of Python, you do not need to switch to a different environment manager, because Conda is also an environment manager.

Although Conda was created for Python programs, Conda can package and distribute software for any language such as R, Ruby, Lua, Scala, Java, JavaScript, C, C++, FORTRAN.Ĭonda as a package manager helps you find and install packages.Conda can create, save, load, and switch between project specific software environments on your local computer.Conda can quickly install, run, and update packages and associated dependencies.What is Conda? Why should you use Conda? How do you install Conda? What is Conda?Ĭonda is an open source package and environment management system that runs on Windows, Mac OS and Linux.

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