How to use the command "conda install" (with examples)
The “conda install” command is used to install packages into an existing conda environment. It allows users to easily add new software packages to their environment, making it an efficient tool for managing package dependencies. This article will illustrate several use cases of the “conda install” command with examples.
Use case 1: Install a single package into the currently active conda environment
Code:
conda install package
Motivation: This use case is helpful when you want to install a single package into the currently active conda environment. It allows you to quickly add the desired package without specifying the environment.
Explanation: The command “conda install” is followed by the name of the package you want to install. This command will search for the package in the default channels and install it into the currently active conda environment.
Example output:
Solving environment: done
## Package Plan ##
environment location: /path/to/conda/environment
added / updated specs:
- package
The following packages will be downloaded:
package-1.0.0-py38_0.tar.bz2
--------------------------------
...
Preparing transaction: done
Verifying transaction: done
Executing transaction: done
Use case 2: Install a single package into the currently active conda environment using channel conda-forge
Code:
conda install -c conda-forge package
Motivation: Sometimes, the default channels do not have the package you want to install. By specifying the channel with the -c flag, you can search for the package in a different channel, such as conda-forge, which is a popular community-led channel for conda packages.
Explanation: The -c conda-forge flag tells conda to search for the package in the conda-forge channel. If the package is available in that channel, it will be installed into the currently active conda environment.
Example output:
Solving environment: done
## Package Plan ##
environment location: /path/to/conda/environment
added / updated specs:
- package
The following packages will be downloaded:
package-1.0.0-py38_0.tar.bz2
--------------------------------
...
Preparing transaction: done
Verifying transaction: done
Executing transaction: done
Use case 3: Install a single package into the currently active conda environment using channel conda-forge and ignoring other channels
Code:
conda install -c conda-forge --override-channels package
Motivation: In some cases, you may want to exclusively install a package from a specific channel, ignoring the packages available in other channels. By using the --override-channels flag, you can ensure that only packages from the specified channel are considered during the installation.
Explanation: The --override-channels flag instructs conda to ignore the channels selected in the configuration and use only the channels specified with the -c flag. This ensures that the package is installed from the specified channel and no other channels are considered.
Example output:
Solving environment: done
## Package Plan ##
environment location: /path/to/conda/environment
added / updated specs:
- package
The following packages will be downloaded:
package-1.0.0-py38_0.tar.bz2
--------------------------------
...
Preparing transaction: done
Verifying transaction: done
Executing transaction: done
Use case 4: Install multiple packages
Code:
conda install package1 package2 ...
Motivation: When you need to install multiple packages at once, you can simply list them after the “conda install” command. This approach is useful when you have a list of packages that you want to install together.
Explanation: After the “conda install” command, you can list the names of the packages you want to install, separated by spaces. Conda will install all the specified packages into the currently active conda environment.
Example output:
Solving environment: done
## Package Plan ##
environment location: /path/to/conda/environment
added / updated specs:
- package1
- package2
The following packages will be downloaded:
package1-1.0.0-py38_0.tar.bz2
package2-2.0.0-py38_0.tar.bz2
--------------------------------
...
Preparing transaction: done
Verifying transaction: done
Executing transaction: done
Use case 5: Install a specific version of a package
Code:
conda install package=version
Motivation: There are scenarios where you specifically need to install a particular version of a package. This use case allows you to specify the desired version and ensures that the specified version of the package is installed.
Explanation: After the package name, you can use the = sign followed by the desired version number. Conda will search for the specified package version and install it into the currently active conda environment.
Example output:
Solving environment: done
## Package Plan ##
environment location: /path/to/conda/environment
added / updated specs:
- package=1.2.3
The following packages will be downloaded:
package-1.2.3-py38_0.tar.bz2
--------------------------------
...
Preparing transaction: done
Verifying transaction: done
Executing transaction: done
Use case 6: Install a package into a specific environment
Code:
conda install --name environment package
Motivation: When you have multiple conda environments set up, you may want to install a package into a specific environment instead of the currently active one. This use case allows you to specify the target environment and ensures that the package is installed in the desired location.
Explanation: The --name environment flag followed by the name of the environment specifies the target environment into which the package should be installed. Conda will search for the package and install it into the specified environment.
Example output:
Solving environment: done
## Package Plan ##
environment location: /path/to/conda/environment
added / updated specs:
- package
The following packages will be downloaded:
package-1.0.0-py38_0.tar.bz2
--------------------------------
...
Preparing transaction: done
Verifying transaction: done
Executing transaction: done
Use case 7: Update a package in the current environment
Code:
conda install --upgrade package
Motivation: It is important to keep software packages up to date to benefit from bug fixes, security patches, and new features. By using the “–upgrade” flag, you can update an existing package to its latest version.
Explanation: The --upgrade flag tells conda to update the specified package to the latest version available in the default channels. Conda will download and install the updated package into the currently active conda environment.
Example output:
Solving environment: done
## Package Plan ##
environment location: /path/to/conda/environment
added / updated specs:
- package
The following packages will be downloaded:
package-2.0.0-py38_0.tar.bz2
--------------------------------
...
Preparing transaction: done
Verifying transaction: done
Executing transaction: done
Use case 8: Install a package and agree to the transactions without prompting
Code:
conda install --yes package
Motivation: When you want to automate the installation process or execute it without any user intervention, you can use the “–yes” flag to agree to all the transactions without being prompted for confirmation.
Explanation: The --yes flag tells conda to automatically proceed with the installation without displaying a confirmation prompt. Conda will download and install the specified package into the currently active conda environment.
Example output:
Solving environment: done
## Package Plan ##
environment location: /path/to/conda/environment
added / updated specs:
- package
The following packages will be downloaded:
package-1.0.0-py38_0.tar.bz2
--------------------------------
...
Preparing transaction: done
Verifying transaction: done
Executing transaction: done
Conclusion:
The “conda install” command is a versatile tool for installing packages into conda environments. By utilizing the different use cases described above, you can effectively manage the installation process based on your specific requirements. Whether it’s installing a single package, specifying a version, updating existing packages, or automating installations, conda provides the necessary flexibility to streamline your package management workflow.
