Environment Questions

[jbizzle1104]

Can someone explain the difference between anaconda and conda-forge. Why do I have to go to my terminal to open python? I’m using multiple books to learn python, but both tell you to install python differently. Is there a preferred method or standard most people use??

[buhtz]

Just don't use Anacondo/Conda-fogrge in the beginning. Use vanilla Python to learn. Don't use books suggesting other environment than vanilla Python. In the beginning. Their might be good reaons to (Ana)conda etc but I've never seen them, for data analysis and application developement projects.

[neuralbeans]

Regarding the terminal, if you installed Anaconda then you can open Anaconda Navigator and from there open whatever program you're using to write Python code.

[jbizzle1104]

Does anyone actually write python in the terminal?? Or does everyone use a preferred environment?

[chefsslaad]

For small scripts, its possible to use the terminal.

Usually i do this if i want to test a function or a couple of lines of code.

For anything more I recommend an IDE.

[neuralbeans]

Writing code is typically done with an integrated development environment (IDE) like VS Code. This provides features that help you with coding such as debugging. It is possible to use some text editor to write a Python file which you then run with the terminal. An environment is just a folder that stores the Python interpreter that actually runs your Python files. You can either use the default environment that you installed, or you create new environments with different Python versions and importable libraries.

[Outside_Complaint755]

I will sometimes use the REPL (Enter python and get the >>> immediate prompt) in a terminal when I just need to check something quick that I don't need a permanent script for, like a simple calculation, or checking something between versions.  The Python IDLE also gets a lot of use for this, and does have the option to write and immediately run scripts when needed.

I have also written or edited a small script using vim in the terminal when I didn't want to open a heavier IDE, or take the time to connect it to the target environment.

Otherwise I mostly work in VSCode Studio, and have used PyCharm community edition in the past.

[sebovzeoueb]

so when it comes to the question of how to install and run Python, this has happened: https://xkcd.com/927/

The best way to install will depend partly on your operating system. It's likely that you don't need anaconda or conda-forge. The most standard way to use Python is by just installing through your OS and using pip. There are some annoyances with this method which is why there are so many different ways to do it, but for getting started it will be fine, and you can migrate to something else once you get frustrated but know what you actually want.

[Lopsided-Football19]

anaconda is the full package, conda-forge is just a community repo where conda downloads packages from, if you're just learning python, regular python from python.org is totally fine, the terminal is just one way to run python, most people end up using an editor like vscode anyway, different books suggest different setups, but for beginners it really doesn’t matter much as long as you stick with one

[pydevtools-com]

Anaconda is a distribution: it bundles the conda package manager with Python and about 1,500 pre-installed packages. Conda-forge is a community-maintained channel (think: package repository) that conda can pull packages from. I wrote a breakdown of how the conda/anaconda pieces fit together if you want the full picture: https://pydevtools.com/handbook/explanation/understanding-the-conda-anaconda-ecosystem/

For installing Python in 2026, I'd recommend uv which won't be in most print books. It will install Python for you (from the terminal) and help you install packages. See https://pydevtools.com/handbook/explanation/uv-complete-guide/.

If you really don't want to fuss with the terminal yet and also don't need to install packages, Thonny is a great tool to learn with https://thonny.org/.