# conda and mamba on Rackham@UPPMAX, Dadel@PDC

:::danger
**Note: the following instructions does not apply for Bianca!**
:::

If you experience unexpected problems with the `conda` provided by the module system on Rackham, you can easily install your own installation and maintain it yourself.

:exclamation:**Important: Please, install `miniforge3` or `miniconda3` in your project folder!**:exclamation:

Home folders at UPPMAX have 32GB (25GB on Dardel) which is rather limited storage space for most common conda installations.

:exclamation:**Important: Please, install `miniforge3` or `miniconda3` in your project folder!**:exclamation:

1. Take some precautions by (re)moving the `.conda` directory and `.condarc` in your home folder if you had ones from previous use.
2. Install `miniforge3` https://github.com/conda-forge/miniforge
Download the installation media, run the installation, read and accept the user agreement, and redirect the installation to your project folder, preferably in `/proj/naiss2023-XXX-XX/nobackup/miniforge3`. **Choose to initialize the shell.**

    # Navigate to your project folder
    cd /proj/naiss2023-XXX-XX/nobackup
    
    # Download the installation file
    wget https://github.com/conda-forge/miniforge/releases/latest/download/Miniforge3-Linux-x86_64.sh
    
    # Start the interactive installation
    sh Miniforge3-Linux-x86_64.sh
    
    # ... or non-interactive  
    # sh Miniforge3-Linux-x86_64.sh        -b -p /proj/naiss2023-XXX-XX/nobackup/miniforge3
    ...

- Logout and login again to pickup the new `conda` setup, then disable the auto activation of the base environment. Working from the conda base environment might interfere with the software modules provided by the computer center.

    (base) conda config --set auto_activate_base false

- Logout and login again to get the final setup active.
3. Check that `conda` works

    # Check where is conda
    which conda
    /proj/naiss2023-XXX-XX/nobackup/miniconda3/condabin/conda
    
    # Activate base environment
    conda activate
    
    # Display a health report for your environment.
    (base) conda doctor
    Environment Health Report for: /proj/naiss2023-XXX-XX/nobackup/miniconda3
    1. Missing Files:
    ✔ There are no packages with missing files.
    2. Altered Files
    ✔ There are no packages with altered files.

4. Check

    # Activate base environment
    conda activate
    
    # Check the output from mamba -V
    (base) mamba -V
    mamba 1.5.0
    conda 23.7.3
    
    (base) mamba info

5. OPTIONAL: Define `CONDA_ENVS_PATH` if you want to specify different location than the default miniconda3 sub-folder for the new conda environments.

    # Add the line bellow in your $HOME/.bashrc
    export CONDA_ENVS_PATH=/proj/naiss2023-XXX-XX/user/CONDA_ENVS
    mkdir -p $CONDA_ENVS_PATH  

## Beyond conda and mamba
- If you want to install `anaconda`, just follow the same instructions. `anacaonda` is selection of packages and could be installed with `conda` with `conda create -n anaconda anaconda`
- Tired of conda - try [pixi](https://pixi.sh/latest/) - faster, python independent package manager and more utilizing the conda packaging ecosystem.
- [7 Reasons to Switch from Conda to Pixi](https://prefix.dev/blog/pixi_a_fast_conda_alternative)
- [What is the difference with `conda`, `mamba`, `poetry`, `pip`](https://pixi.sh/latest/FAQ/#what-is-the-difference-with-conda-mamba-poetry-pip)
- > just my personal opinion 🤏🧂: I hope this or similar project becomes more popular or standard...

## Advantages and disadvantages of user/project installation
### Advantages:
- **Full control over the installation**.
- **No specific setup** i.e. one can follow the regular installation instructions provided by developers.
- Environments will be installed in subfolder of the installation i.e. in your project folder.
- **Faster solutions** for installations - conda does not have to search through all available indexes but only the one you provide.
- You can install in the `(base)` environment (although not a good practice).

### Disadvantages
- **You need to maintain the installation** - setup, cleaning cache, update, etc.
- Not applicable solution for isolated clusters like Bianca.

## Contacts:
- [Pavlin Mitev](https://katalog.uu.se/profile/?id=N3-1425)
- [UPPMAX](https://www.uppmax.uu.se/)
- [AE@UPPMAX - related documentation](/8sqXISVRRquPDSw9o1DizQ)


###### tags: `UPPMAX`, `PDC`