[SOLVED] Switch ad-hoc between distro and anaconda python versions

Issue

I have installed anaconda on Ubuntu 20.04 (conda --version says conda 22.9.0).

Now the global python version (which python) is controlled by anaconda since it installs its init code in .bashrc:

# >>> conda initialize >>>
# !! Contents within this block are managed by 'conda init' !!
__conda_setup="$('/home/user/anaconda3/bin/conda' 'shell.bash' 'hook' 2> /dev/null)"
if [ $? -eq 0 ]; then
    eval "$__conda_setup"
else
    if [ -f "/home/user/anaconda3/etc/profile.d/conda.sh" ]; then
        . "/home/user/anaconda3/etc/profile.d/conda.sh"
    else
        export PATH="/home/user/anaconda3/bin:$PATH"
    fi
fi
unset __conda_setup
# <<< conda initialize <<<

For testing purposes I sometimes want to use the standard distro python version and packages.

How can an easily switch between anaconda and the distro python version?

My current work-around is to use conda init --no-user or commenting the above conda init script in .bash.rc to achieve this (requires opening a new shell)...

Solution

Conda installation comes with a default environment, often named base. That's what you see when typing which python: it links to the conda version of python.

As any other conda virtual environment, you can deactivate this base environment through conda deactivate.

If you do not want this base environment to be activated when opening a new terminal, you can use conda config --set auto_activate_base false. You could then activate this default environment when needed, through conda activate base.

Answered By - Théo Rubenach

Answer Checked By - Marilyn (WPSolving Volunteer)