Master Anaconda: Create and Manage Conda Environments Like a Pro

Preface

Hello, I’m a three‑year‑old coder sharing my daily Python journey.

Check conda version

Run the following command to see the installed conda version:

conda --version

Update conda to the latest version

If conda has not been updated for a while, run: conda update conda When prompted, type y to proceed.

Supplement from the previous article

Note that the Anaconda installer shown only supports Python 3.7 for creating environments.

Create a virtual environment

Command template:

conda create --name <env_name> [interpreter_version] [package_names]

Parameters: <env_name> – name of the environment. [interpreter_version] – Python version, e.g., python=3.7. package_names – space‑separated list of packages to install.

Method 1

Create test1 without specifying a Python version (defaults to the highest available):

conda create --name test1

Method 2

Create test2 with Python 3.6.6:

conda create --name test2 python=3.6.6

Method 3

Create test3 with Python 3.6.4 and install requests and flask immediately:

conda create --name test3 python=3.6.4 requests flask

Fix "Collecting package ... failed" error

Locate the .condarc file in your user folder on the C: drive.

Edit the file and replace its content with the following configuration, then restart the command prompt:

ssl_verify: true
channels:
  - http://mirrors.tuna.tsinghua.edu.cn/anaconda/pkgs/free/win-64/
  - http://mirrors.tuna.tsinghua.edu.cn/anaconda/pkgs/main/win-64
show_channel_urls: true

This switches conda to the Tsinghua mirror for faster and more reliable package downloads.

List all environments

conda env list

The highlighted box shows where the environments are stored, which is useful for PyCharm.

Activate a virtual environment

activate <env_name>

After activation, the prompt indicates the current environment.

Deactivate the current environment

deactivate

Install third‑party packages in a virtual environment

Method 1 – conda install

conda install --name <env_name> <package_name>

Example: install django into test2:

conda install --name test2 django

Method 2 – pip install inside the environment

First activate the environment, then run:

pip install <package_name>

Speed up pip installations

Replace the default PyPI source with the Tsinghua mirror:

Enter any virtual environment.

Upgrade pip to the latest version: python -m pip install --user --upgrade pip Set the global index URL:

pip config set global.index-url https://pypi.tuna.tsinghua.edu.cn/simple/

After this, all pip installs use the faster mirror.

Use the virtual environment in PyCharm

Run conda env list to find the environment path, then configure PyCharm to use that interpreter.

Additional knowledge

To see which Python executable is being used, run: where python Outside any environment, it points to the Anaconda Python. Inside an activated environment, it points to the environment’s Python, and the same applies to pip and pip3.

Conclusion

This article, based on Anaconda, demonstrates three ways to create virtual environments, install third‑party libraries, and accelerate pip downloads, helping you manage Python projects efficiently.