environments

Custom GES DISC Anaconda Environments

Description

In order to mitigate errors, GES DISC provides customized Anaconda YAML environment files, which users can install before running select Python tutorials. These YAMLs are organized by services, such as OPeNDAP, and can be installed directly or by downloading from the gesdisc-tutorials/environments folder. The instructions for installing each individual environment are described here, and will be updated as more environment files are added or changed.

1. Installing Anaconda

An Anaconda installation is required for installing custom environment files. We recommend installing miniconda for lightweight, terminal-based environment management, or the standard Anaconda Distribution, which includes a GUI (Anaconda Navigator) for managing environment files. miniconda installation steps can be accessed here, and Anaconda Distribution steps can be accessed here, available for Windows/macOS/Linux.

2. Installing nasa-gesdisc.yml

The nasa-gesdisc.yml environment contains a Python 3.10 installation that works with all of our how-tos except for our OPeNDAP guides or ArcGIS tutorials. If you wish to access Cloud OPeNDAP, we recommend following the steps for installing nasa-gesdisc-opendap.yml outlined in step 3, or for utilizing ArcGIS tutorials, please install nasa-gesdisc-arcgis.yml by following step 4.

• To install via a command line:

  • Open a terminal, ensuring that the conda can be called.
  • Enter: conda env create -f https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nasa/gesdisc-tutorials/refs/heads/main/environments/nasa-gesdisc.yml.
  • Activate the environment by entering: conda activate nasa-gesdisc.

• To install via Anaconda Navigator:

  • Download nasa-gesdisc.yml to your computer.
  • Open Anaconda Navigator, click Environments -> Import
  • Select Import from: Local drive and select the downloaded nasa-gesdisc.yml file. New Environment Name will automatically fill using the name from the file, but you can change this if desired.
  • Click the triangular "play" button to the right of the nasa-gesdisc environment tab, and click the "Open in Terminal" button to activate the environment in a terminal session

3. Installing nasa-gesdisc-opendap.yml

The nasa-gesdisc-opendap.yml environment contains a Python 3.10 installation that only works with select OPeNDAP how-tos, which includes the Pydap library. If you are not accessing an OPeNDAP service with Python, we recommend installing the nasa-gesdisc.yml environment, outlined in step 2.

• To install via a command line:

  • Open a terminal, ensuring that the conda can be called.
  • Enter: conda env create -f https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nasa/gesdisc-tutorials/refs/heads/main/environments/nasa-gesdisc-opendap.yml.
  • Activate the environment by entering: conda activate nasa-gesdisc-opendap.

• To install via Anaconda Navigator:

  • Download opendap.yml to your computer.
  • Open Anaconda Navigator, click Environments -> Import
  • Select Import from: Local drive and select the downloaded nasa-gesdisc-opendap.yml file. New Environment Name will automatically fill using the name from the file, but you can change this if desired.
  • Click the triangular "play" button to the right of the opendap environment tab, and click the "Open in Terminal" button to activate the environment in a terminal session.

4. Installing nasa-gesdisc-arcgis.yml

The nasa-gesdisc-arcgis.yml environment contains a Python 3.10 installation that only works with select ArcGIS how-tos.

• To install via a command line:

  • Open a terminal, ensuring that the conda can be called.
  • Enter: conda env create -f https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nasa/gesdisc-tutorials/refs/heads/main/environments/nasa-gesdisc-arcgis.yml.
  • Activate the environment by entering: conda activate nasa-gesdisc-arcgis.

• To install via Anaconda Navigator:

  • Download arcgis.yml to your computer.
  • Open Anaconda Navigator, click Environments -> Import
  • Select Import from: Local drive and select the downloaded arcgis.yml file. New Environment Name will automatically fill using the name from the file, but you can change this if desired.
  • Click the triangular "play" button to the right of the nasa-gesdisc-arcgis environment tab, and click the "Open in Terminal" button to activate the environment in a terminal session.