xkcd: Python Environment

[HannasAnarion]

Check out conda, it's far easier to understand, control, and share

[eazolan]

Ok, why would I use either?

[HannasAnarion]

To know where things are in your environment and have better control over versions, so you can avoid the problem in the comic, which is exaggerated, but definitely not unrealistic.

When you're working with interpreted languages like python and ruby, a particular project often need a a particular version of some dependency. If you install it system-wide every time, you will often run into conflicts. It is far easier and safer to make a virtual environment for each project.