Anaconda is a distribution of Python. It provides a Python programming environment, the Jupyter notebook environment, and the conda package management system.
For the Digital Humanities Research Institute, we are choosing to use and download Anaconda as it allow us to get all the required software for this institute (python, conda, and the Jupyter notebook environment) in a single download. Anaconda also includes many useful packages for machine learning, and data analysis that will be helpful should you choose to go further in your Python journey!.
Let's check if you have Anaconda already installed on your computer.
Try to open the Anaconda Prompt (On Mac, click on the "magnifying glass" icon (also known as Spotlight) on the upper-right hand corner of your menubar and type Anaconda. On Windows, press the Windows key and type Anaconda). If no option comes up, you most likely don't have it installed.
If you don't have Anaconda installed on your computer, you can follow either the macOS Catalina or Windows instructions. If you do have Anaconda and only need to update Anaconda to the newest version for this workshop, you can go to our Insight section for Keeping your Anaconda installation up to date.
While the installation instructions below is for macOS Catalina (10.15) and above, this installation instruction should work for older macOS versions. Older macOS versions (10.13 (High Sierra) to 10.14 (Mojave)) can also skip step 3 in the installation process. For older versions, please check out the Anaconda documentation. You can check your macOS version by clicking the "apple" icon on the upper-left corner of your menu bar and choose "About This Mac." You should see the macOS name followed by the version number. Should you run into any trouble, you can also find solution to common installation issues here.
Another note, for MacOS Catalina and Big Sur, the Terminal window will likely show the % (percent sign) prompt, which is default for the newest version of Terminal. If you have an older version, it will show the $ (dollar sign) prompt. Either prompt works the exact same, so it does not matter if yours is different from the instructions. Just be aware that they are interchangeable in these instructions.
Visit the Anaconda website on your internet browser, such as Firefox or Chrome, and scroll to the bottom of the page. Here, click on the 64-Bit Graphical Installer under the MacOS Python 3.+ version menu. Our screenshot below shows python 3.8, but any latest python 3.+ version will work with our instructions and the institute.
You can ignore this. Just close this screen.
You can either let your browser open with the Installer, or save it and open it yourself.
After the download has completed, if it doesn't open automatically, double-click on the installer file you just saved on your computer. Click Continue:
You should then see the initial install screen. Click Continue:
Click Continue again:
Accept the license by clicking I Agree:
Click Install. Only change the install location if you know what you are doing:
Click Install Microsoft VSCode. If it is already installed, click Continue:
This is the final installation window. Just click Close:
You can move the installer to the Trash to save space on your hard drive by clicking Move to Trash:
NOTE: this step only applies to MacOS Catalina and Big Sur. For all previous version of MacOS, skip to Step 4
This step ensures that you will be able to run anaconda directly from your terminal.
Open your macOS terminal. You can find your terminal by clicking the "magnifying glass" icon (also known as Spotlight) on the upper-right hand corner of your menubar or press command + space, type Terminal and press enter. In your terminal, you will run a few lines of code to make sure that the terminal knows how to start Anaconda. Type in the following lines of code, after the %, pressing enter after each line:
cd ~
bash
source .bash_profile
conda init zshIf this step is successful, when you close and re-open terminal, your command prompt % should have (base) in front of it.
Open the macOS terminal. You can find your terminal by clicking the "magnifying glass" icon (also known as Spotlight) on the upper-right hand corner of your menubar or press command + space, type Terminal and press enter. In your terminal, type python and press enter. The terminal should print something like:
~$ python
Python 3.7.7 (default, May 6 2020, 04:59:01)
[Clang 4.0.1 (tags/RELEASE_401/final)] :: Anaconda, Inc. on darwin
Type "help", "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information.
>>> Type exit() to leave Python.
Now that Anaconda is installed, you need to ensure that Anaconda is updated to the newest version for this workshop. Go to our Insight section for Keeping your Anaconda installation up to date to learn more about how to keep your Anaconda installation up-to-date.
While the installation instructions below is for Windows 10, this installation instruction should work for Windows 8 as well. For older version, please check out the Anaconda documentation. Should you run into any trouble, you can also find solution to common installation issues here.
We strongly recommend that you follow the screens below step by step. Paying particular attention to Step 3 in the installation process.
Visit the Anaconda website on your internet browser, such as Firefox or Chrome, and scroll to the bottom of the page. Here, click on the 64-Bit Graphical Installer under the Windows Python 3.+ menu. Our screenshot below shows python 3.8, but any latest python 3.+ version will work with our instructions and the institute.
You can ignore this. Just close this screen and wait for your donwload to finish.
After the download has completed, if it doesn't open automatically, double-click on the installer file you just saved on your computer. Click Continue:
Accept the license by clicking I Agree:
Install Anaconda only for yourself by choosing the just for me radio button. Click Next:
Choose the location to install anaconda (the default is fine). Click Next:
This step is so that you will be able to run anaconda directly from your terminal.
On the Advanced Installation Options page, select BOTH boxes: "Add Anaconda to my PATH environment variable" and "Register Anaconda as my default Python". Then click Next:
The installation may take a while, so go grab a snack or check your email:
When installation is completed, the window will list the location of the Anaconda installer. Click Next:
Click Install Microsoft VSCode. If it is already installed, click Skip:
This is the final window. You can uncheck all the boxes and click Finish:
Open a Windows terminal. You can open the terminal by pressing windows + R to open the Run box. Type cmd and then click OK to open the Command Prompt. Once it is open, type python and press enter on your keyboard. The terminal should print something like:
~$ python
Python 3.7.7 (default, May 6 2020, 04:59:01)
[Clang 4.0.1 (tags/RELEASE_401/final)] :: Anaconda, Inc. on darwin
Type "help", "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information.
>>> Type exit() to leave Python.
Now that Anaconda is installed, you need to ensure that Anaconda is updated to the newest version for this workshop. Go to our Insight section for Keeping your Anaconda installation up to date to learn more about how to keep your Anaconda installation up-to-date.