Battle of the Python Package Managers: Conda vs. Pip (2024)

If you’re knee-deep into Python development, you’ve undoubtedly encountered the age-old debate: Conda vs. Pip. These two package managers are the workhorses behind Python libraries, ensuring smooth sailing or a potential headache, depending on your choice.

Let’s dissect the differences, weigh the pros and cons, and equip you with the knowledge to make an informed decision for your next project.

Conda, short for Anaconda, is a cross-platform package manager and environment manager. It doesn’t just manage Python packages; it’s a versatile tool for handling libraries and dependencies across multiple languages. Conda excels in creating isolated environments, safeguarding your project from version conflicts.

Creating a Conda environment is a breeze:

conda create --name myenv python=3.8

This one-liner sets up a new environment named “myenv” with Python 3.8. Activate it using:

conda activate myenv

Installing packages? Piece of cake:

conda install numpy pandas