Temp: Project update for NumFOCUS newsletter

# Temp: Project update for NumFOCUS newsletter # 2023/12 Due Dec 13. ## Conda ### Community * Subscribe to the new [conda-announce mailing list](https://lists.conda.org/wws/subscribe/announce) to get occassional summaries on the conda ecosystem delivered to your inbox. * The Mamba project has [bi-weekly community calls](https://hackmd.io/iOgkxNMpTea6lWczjCov9Q?view) on Tuesdays. * The overall conda community has [bi-weekly calls](https://hackmd.io/@conda-community?tags=%5B%22meeting-notes%22%5D) on Wednesdays. **Releases** * **`conda`** [23.11.0 release](https://conda.org/blog/2023-12-07-november-releases/#changes-in-conda-23110) includes * The speedy `conda-libmamba-solver` as its default dependency solver. This and other improvements make `conda` run 4-5x faster. * Support for plugins, enabling you to customize your conda installation. * Package builders can now include desktop icons across all operating systems, which is especially useful for GUI applications. * The [conda documentation](https://docs.conda.io/en/latest/) has been refresshed and updated. * [**`pixi`**](https://pixi.sh/) a new open-source conda-compatible package and environment manager led by the folks at prefix.dev. Implemented in Rust, using the recently intoruduced Rattler library as a foundation. See [the announcement](https://prefix.dev/blog/launching_pixi) for details. * **`conda-build`** now supports `emscripten-wasm32` and `wasi-wasm32` platforms. * **`conda-lock`**, **`mamba`**, **`rattler-build`**, **`grayskull`**, **`quetz`**, **`rattler`**, **`condax`** and many other projects had new releases too. **Newly welcomed projects** These projects joined the [conda-incubator](https://github.com/conda-incubator): * [`conda-store`](https://github.com/conda-incubator/conda-auth) and kin support storing, reusing, and sharing conda environments. * The [`conda-auth` plugin](https://github.com/conda-incubator/conda-auth) supports authenticated access to private channels in `conda`. (The [plugins repo](https://github.com/conda-incubator/plugins) lists this and other available plugins.) # 2023/06 ## Moved to GitHub Conda Comms on 2023/06/07. **Community events** * The Mamba project has [bi-weekly community calls](https://hackmd.io/iOgkxNMpTea6lWczjCov9Q?view) on Tuesdays. * The overall conda community has [bi-weekly calls](https://hackmd.io/@conda-community?tags=%5B%22meeting-notes%22%5D) on Wednesdays. * [PackagingCon 2023](https://packaging-con.org/) will be Octover 26-28 in Berlin. **Conda on the web** * **[conda.org](https://conda.org/), the conda community website, [has been launched](https://conda.org/blog/2022-04-27-welcome-to-conda-dot-org)!** * [The sleight-of-hand trick that can simplify scientific computing](https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-01469-0, ), *Nature* post by Jeffrey M. Perkel. * Two conda-centric presentations from PyCon US 2023 are now avaialble: * [Publishing your Python project, the conda way](https://youtu.be/NSgTFf40vHQ) * [Plug life into your codebase: Making established Python codebase pluggable](https://youtu.be/OeSv0_HesaU) * [How to use conda-build to build a Python package with C/C++ dependencies](https://conda.org/blog/2023-05-18-how-to-use-conda-build), blog post by Vasvi Sood * [How we reduced conda's index fetch bandwidth by 99%](https://conda.org/blog/2023-05-05-how-we-reduced-the-conda-index-fetch-bandwidth), blog post by Daniel Holth **Releases and announcements** * [**rattler-build**](https://prefix.dev/blog/the_new_rattler_build) - a new rewrite of the core concepts of conda-build in *Rust*. * **[conda-lock 2.0.0](https://github.com/conda/conda-lock/releases/tag/v2.0.0)** - a lightweight library for generating fully reproducible lock files for conda environments. * **[conda 23.5.0](https://conda.org/blog/2023-05-31-may-2023-releases#changes-in-conda)** - Python 3.11 support and the new [**conda doctor** subcommand plugin](https://conda.org/blog/2023-06-01-conda-doctor) for detecting corrupted installs. * **[conda-build 3.25.0](https://conda.org/blog/2023-05-31-may-2023-releases#changes-in-conda-build)** - an update to `conda`'s package builder. * **[conda-libmamba-solver 23.5.0](https://conda.org/blog/2023-05-31-may-2023-releases#changes-in-conda-libmamba-solver)** - An update to the fast `libmamba` solver in `conda`. * **[grayskull 2.3.1](https://github.com/conda/grayskull/releases/tag/v2.3.1)** - An automatic recipe generator for the conda ecosystem. * **[Prefix.dev Channels](https://prefix.dev/blog/introducing_channels)** - A new option for creating your own conda channels # 2023/04 **Conda @ PyCon US 2023** Conda will [have a strong presence at PyCon US 2023](https://conda.discourse.group/t/conda-pycon-us-2023/222), including a [tutorial](https://us.pycon.org/2023/schedule/presentation/94/), a [talk on plugins](https://us.pycon.org/2023/schedule/presentation/66/), a [conda community / ecosystem open space meeetup](https://bit.ly/2023-conda-open-space), and a [two day conda and friends sprint](https://hackmd.io/l8CBSTFHQh63VZDUOBmR7A). Conda is also participating in the [Python Packaging Summit](https://us.pycon.org/2023/events/packaging-summit/). (Note that Conda plugins work will be [presented](https://pretalx.com/pyconde-pydata-berlin-2023/talk/RDQH3W/) at PyCon DE / PyData Berlin too.) **GSoD** Conda is one of thirteen projects selected to participate in the [2023 Google Season of Docs](https://developers.google.com/season-of-docs/docs/participants). We are looking for a contributor to [help make the upcoming conda.org community web site the goto place for the conda community](https://github.com/conda-incubator/conda-dot-org/discussions/73). **Releases** * [conda-libmamba-solver 23.3.0](https://conda.discourse.group/t/conda-libmamba-solver-23-3-0-released/247) - an update to the fast conda solver plugin. * [Conda 23.3.1 & conda-build 3.24.0](https://conda.discourse.group/t/conda-23-3-1-conda-build-3-24-0-releases/241) - improved error messages, 64-bit RISC-V compatibility, faster repodata.json parsing, and experimental support for faster repodata.json downloading * [Grayskull 2.3.0](https://github.com/conda/grayskull/releases/tag/v2.3.0) - Build your conda package recipes automatically from PyPI and CRAN. This version added support for Poetry version syntax, and moved project metadata to pyproject.toml. Grayskull also graduated from an incubator project to a full conda organization project.