How to use python virtual environment with conda

Introduction

In this tutorial I will show you how to setup python virtual environment. This process will work even if you are a mac, windows or linux user as we will be installing it using a popular software package manager called Anaconda.

What’s a Virtual Environment?

A virtual environment is a Python environment such that the Python interpreter, libraries and scripts installed into it are isolated from those installed in other virtual environments, and (by default) any libraries installed in a “system” Python, i.e., one which is installed as part of your operating system.

What’s Conda?

Conda is a popular opensource python package manager similar to pip. Conda quickly installs, runs and updates packages and their dependencies.

How to Create a Virtual Environment with Conda

Check conda is installed and in your PATH if not install from conda
```
$ conda -V
```
Check conda is up to date
```
conda update conda
```
To see a list of available python versions first, type
```
conda search "^python$"
```
and press enter.

Create a virtual environment for your project

conda create -n yourenvname python=x.x anaconda

Activate your virtual environment.

# if you are using a UNIX operating sytem like ubuntu
source activate yourenvname

# if you are using windows
conda activate yourenvname

Install additional Python packages to a virtual environment. Failure to specify “-n yourenvname” will install the package to the root Python installation.
```
conda install -n yourenvname [package]
```
Deactivate your virtual environment.
```
conda deactivate
```
List all virtual envinment
```
conda env list
```
Delete a no longer needed virtual environment
```
conda remove -n yourenvname -all
```

How to use python virtual environment with conda

Introduction

What’s a Virtual Environment?

What’s Conda?

How to Create a Virtual Environment with Conda

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