Anaconda

Anaconda is an easy-to-install free package manager, environment manager, Python distribution, and collection of over 720 open source packages offering free community support. Download Anaconda now.

Don’t want the collection of packages? Then get miniconda and get started with this guide.

conda, Anaconda and Miniconda

Conda is an open source package management system and environment management system for installing multiple versions of software packages and their dependencies and switching easily between them. It works on Linux, OS X and Windows, and was created for Python programs but can package and distribute any software.

Anaconda is a distribution of Python containing Python, the conda package and environment manager, and many software packages for data analytics, data science, and scientific computing.

Miniconda is a minimal distribution of Python containing only Python, the conda package and environment manager, and only the packages needed by Python or conda.

Any Anaconda package can be installed, removed, or updated with a single conda command after installing either Anaconda or Miniconda.

Data scientists and other users usually want all of Anaconda installed on their workstations so they can use any of the packages in Anaconda at any time. However, in some environments such as compute nodes in a supercomputer, or on a continuous integration system, users know before installing the system exactly which few packages the system will need. In these environments, installing just Miniconda and those packages saves time and disk space. Some experienced users also prefer to install Miniconda on their workstations and install each Anaconda package when it is first used, rather than installing all of Anaconda.

Product specifications

  • License: Anaconda is free to use and (re)distribute under the terms of the Anaconda End User License Agreement
  • Windows Vista or newer, OS X 10.7+, or Linux (Ubuntu, RedHat and others; CentOS 5+)
  • 32-bit or 64-bit
  • Minimum 3 GB disk space to download and install.

Packages available in Anaconda

  • Over 150 packages are automatically installed with Anaconda.
  • Over 250 additional open source packages can be individually installed from the Anaconda repository at the command line, by using the “conda install” command.
  • Thousands of other packages are available from Anaconda.org.
  • Others can be downloaded using the “pip install” command that is included and installed with Anaconda.
  • You can also make your own custom packages using the “conda build” command, and upload them to Anaconda.org, PyPi or other repositories.

Managing packages in Anaconda

Packages in Anaconda are managed using the “conda” command. Take our 30-minute conda test drive, download a conda cheat sheet and see our “Using conda” section for fun things to do with Anaconda.

What’s new in Anaconda 4.0?

Anaconda 4.0 now includes Anaconda Navigator, a graphical tool that can install, update, and launch applications, manage environments and packages, and explore webinars, documentation, videos, training, and information about open data science events, forums, and social networking.

This version was given the number 4.0 to prevent any possible confusion with the versions of Python included in Anaconda.

Anaconda 4.0 also includes enhanced package dependency resolution with the new conda 4.0 and the important security updates in OpenSSL 1.0.2g.

Details in changelog.

Older versions of Anaconda

You can download old versions of Anaconda from the archive and see the packages included in old versions in the Old package lists.

NOTE: Windows XP is supported on Anaconda versions 2.2 and earlier.

Features in past versions of Anaconda:

Support

For free community support, join the Anaconda Mailing List.

Please report bugs on the Anaconda GitHub issue tracker.

Packages: Refer to the Anaconda included packages list.

Continuum Analytics also offers support & training.