Getting started with Anaconda
Welcome to Anaconda! This topic can help you decide which Anaconda installer to download and whether to use conda (CLI) or Anaconda Navigator (GUI) for managing environments and packages. You’ll also find several resources to build your understanding of Anaconda’s most popular offerings.
Should I use Anaconda Distribution or Miniconda?
Both the Anaconda Distribution and Miniconda installers include the conda package and environment manager, but how you plan to use the software will determine which installer you want to choose.
| Anaconda Distribution | Miniconda | |
|---|---|---|
| Created and published by Anaconda | Yes | Yes |
| Has conda | Yes | Yes |
| Has Anaconda Navigator | Yes | No |
| # of packages | 300+ | < 70 |
| Install space required | ~4.4 GB | ~480 MB |
What’s your experience level?
Should I use Anaconda Navigator or conda?
Anaconda Navigator is a desktop application that is included with every installation of Anaconda Distribution. It is built on top of conda, the open-source package and environment manager, and allows you to manage your packages and environments from a graphical user interface (GUI). This is especially helpful when you’re not comfortable with the command line.
Anaconda Navigator is not included with Miniconda. Use the command conda install anaconda-navigator to manually install Navigator onto your computer.
A command line interface (or CLI) is a program on your computer that processes text commands to do various tasks. Conda is a CLI program, which means it can only be used via the command line. On Windows computers, Anaconda recommends that you use the Anaconda Prompt CLI to work with conda. On macOS and Linux, users can use their built-in command line applications.
Navigator resources
Conda resources
Free Anaconda Learning course
In the Get Started with Anaconda entry-level course, you’ll learn about packages, conda environments, Jupyter Notebooks, and more. We’ll also guide you through initiating a Python program (in both a notebook and several popular IDEs) and show you what happens when a bug is identified in Python code.
Anaconda Notebooks
Anaconda Notebooks allow anyone, anywhere to begin their data science journey. Spin up awesome data science projects directly from your browser with all the packages and computing power you need.
IDE tutorials
The following tutorials show you the basics of using some popular IDEs (integrated development environments) with Anaconda: