Scientific computing often involves connecting code written in a number of different languages. Language-specific package managers like pip fall down on this. Conda is a new cross-platform, cross-language packaging system. Lightning talk at SFpython, May 2014

1. Conda
Alternative packaging for scientific computing
Thomas Kluyver Lightning talk at SFPython, 14th
May 2014

2. What's wrong with Python packaging?
● Binary packages
– Install=build is not practical
– Eggs fell out of use with pip
– Now there are wheels, except on Linux
● Non-Python dependencies

4. Conda
● Cross-platform, Python agnostic package manager
conda install qt
● Dependencies handled
conda.pydata.org

5. Conda environments
● Like virtualenv, but isolates C libraries
● pip also works inside conda envs
conda create -n myenv python=3 ipython
source activate myenv
source deactivate

6. Making Conda packages

7. Package indexes
● Continuum
● Binstar – public package hosting (beta)
● Any static file server (run conda index)

8. Downsides
● Conda starts from its own Python
– pip install conda works, but not recommended
– Like making clean virtualenvs
● Developed primarily by one company
– BSD licensed, no lock in