54 lines
3.6 KiB
Markdown
54 lines
3.6 KiB
Markdown
---
|
|
title: Anaconda
|
|
---
|
|
|
|
# Anaconda
|
|
|
|
**Anaconda** is a package manager, environment manager and Python distribution with a collection of over [1,500 open source packages](https://docs.anaconda.com/anaconda/packages/pkg-docs/), and it offers [free community support](https://groups.google.com/a/anaconda.com/forum/?fromgroups#!forum/anaconda). Anaconda is platform-agnostic, so you can use it whether you are on Windows, macOS or Linux.
|
|
|
|
Anaconda easily creates, saves, loads and switches between environments on your system. It was initially created for Python programs, but it can package and distribute software for any language.
|
|
|
|
Anaconda, as a package manager, helps you find and install packages. If you need a package that requires a different version of Python, you do not need to switch to a different environment manager, because Anaconda is also an environment manager. 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.
|
|
|
|
To try Anaconda get the [Anaconda Cheat Sheet](https://docs.anaconda.com/_downloads/Anaconda-Starter-Guide-Cheat-Sheet.pdf) and [download Anaconda](https://www.anaconda.com/downloads).
|
|
|
|
## Overview
|
|
|
|
To use the Anaconda prompt (or Terminal on Linux or macOS), instead of a graphical user interface (GUI), then do so along with conda. You can also switch between them.
|
|
|
|
The quickest ways to start using conda are to take the [30-minute conda test drive](http://conda.pydata.org/docs/test-drive.html), download the [conda cheat sheet](http://conda.pydata.org/docs/_downloads/conda-cheatsheet.pdf) and visit [Using conda](http://conda.pydata.org/docs/using) for creative/fun things to do with conda.
|
|
|
|
The ``conda`` command is the primary interface for managing
|
|
installations of various packages. It can:
|
|
|
|
* Query and search the Anaconda package index and current
|
|
Anaconda installation.
|
|
|
|
* Create new conda environments.
|
|
|
|
* Install and update packages into existing conda environments.
|
|
|
|
TIP: You can abbreviate many frequently used command options that
|
|
are preceded by 2 dashes (``--``) to just 1 dash and the first
|
|
letter of the option. So ``--name`` and ``-n`` are the same, and
|
|
``--envs`` and ``-e`` are the same.
|
|
|
|
For full usage of each command, including abbreviations, see
|
|
[Command reference](https://conda.io/docs/commands.html).
|
|
You can also type ``conda`` or ``conda help`` to access the list of commands and help text for each command available.
|
|
|
|
|
|
## Packages Available in Anaconda
|
|
- Over [200 packages](https://docs.anaconda.com/anaconda/packages/pkg-docs/) are automaticlly installed with Anaconda.
|
|
- Over 1,500 additional packages can be installed a la carte from the Anaconda repository using the ``conda install`` command.
|
|
- Thousands of more packages are available on [Anaconda Cloud](https://anaconda.org/).
|
|
- The ability to install other packages is possible using the ``pip install`` command that is installed with Anaconda. [Pip Packages](https://conda.io/docs/user-guide/tasks/manage-pkgs.html#installing-non-conda-packages) offer many of the same features as conda packages. Ideally, using the conda package, if available, is preferred.
|
|
- Anaconda allows for the development of your own [custom packages](http://conda.pydata.org/docs/building/build.html) via the ``conda build`` command. You can then share the packages on [Anaconda Cloud](http://anaconda.org/), PyPi, and more repositories.
|
|
|
|
### Sources
|
|
1. [Anaconda Documentation](https://docs.anaconda.com/)
|
|
2. [Conda Documentation](https://conda.io/docs/)
|
|
|
|
#### More Information
|
|
- [Conda cheat sheet](https://conda.io/docs/user-guide/cheatsheet.html)
|