Install Jupyter Locally

We want to set up an extensible system for Python development and data science in general, including Jupyter as one component. Here we only install the base system. From time to time tools and Python libraries can be added on demand.

Hint

A Python library is a collection of Python code files extending Python’s set of commands.

Conda and Mamba

Before we start, we should become aware of two problems:

• A Python development environment consists of many different tools, because many small tools are more flexible than one monolithic all-in-one tool. In principle, one could install all of them manually. On Windows systems this would be very time-consuming. Other operating systems, which adhere to the small tools approach (Unix-like systems), have a package manager for efficient software installation.

• Different programming tasks could require different tools. Sometimes a tool prevents installation of another tool or of another version of itself. This is especially the case for some Python libraries, because some libraries depend on specific versions of others. Installing an additional library could require updating an existing one, but this in turn could corrupt dependencies of already installed libraries.

To circumvent both problems there exist package managers which create and manage multiple separate Python environments. So we may have several different sets of tools and libraries in parallel, switching between them whenever appropriate.

A widely used package manager for Python is Conda. It’s part of the Anaconda and Miniconda Python distributions. A Python distribution is a collection of tools and libraries for Python development.

Miniconda is a light-weight version of Anaconda with fewer tools and libraries pre-installed.

Note

Mamba is a faster, fully compatible alternative to Conda with a more non-commercial background. Corresponding light-weight Python distribution is Miniforge, which by default prefers packages from the community curated conda-forge project instead of from Anaconda Inc.

In 2024 Mamba and Miniforge are the better choice. Wherever the conda command appears in this book you may replace it by mamba. Wherever we refer to Anaconda Navigator you may use Mamba Navigator. Note that Ananconda Navigator has some additonal comfort features for Windows users (creation of app menu entries, for instance).

Alternative 1: Install Miniforge and Mamba Navigator

Task: Go to Miniforge’s GitHub repository and follow the install instructions there (for Windows users: if asked by the installer, do not add Miniforge to the path variable).

The Miniforge Python distribution installs Conda as well as Mamba. Conda and Mamba both are command line tools. If you feel more comfortable with GUI tools, install Mamba Navigator (Gator).

Important

If you are on Windows, don’t use Windows’ command shell. Instead, run the ‘Miniforge Prompt’ from the app menu whenever you need a terminal. Python and Jupyter originate from the Linux affine open source community and Windows is lacking some features available in all other operating systems.

Task: Open a terminal and run

mamba create --name gator mamba_gator

in it. This creates a new environment named gator (see below for details) and installs Mamba Navigator (i.e., the package mamba_gator) to this environment.

To start Mamba Navigator open a terminal and run mamba activate gator (for activating the relevant environment), then gator. Your webbrowser opens and shows the Mamba Navigator.

Important

Before you install any additional tools with Mamba Navigator or Mamba, read on!

Alternative 2: Install Miniconda and Anaconda Navigator

Task: Go to Miniconda Installer List and download a suitable installer for your system. Then follow the install instructions for your system.

Conda is a command line tool. If you feel more comfortable with GUI tools, install Anaconda Navigator.

Task: Open a terminal and run conda install anaconda-navigator in it. This installs Anaconda Navigator.

Depending on your system now there should be an entry for Anaconda Navigator in your system’s app menu. If not, add an entry manually. Anaconda Navigator executable should be in bin subdirectory of Miniconda’s installation directory. On Non-Windows run which anaconda-navigator in a terminal to get the path.

Important

Before you install any additional tools with Anaconda Navigator or Conda, read on!

Create a Python Environment

At the moment there is only one Python environment on your system, called base. Don’t install additional packages to this environment. Create a separate environment for each kind of task, for instance, an environment you use to work through projects and exercises in this book.

Task: Create a new Python environment ds-book. Either run conda create -n ds-book in a terminal or go to ‘Environments’ page in Anaconda Navigator. Then click the plus button and follow the GUI instructions.

To switch between environments use Anaconda Navigator or run conda activate environment_name in a terminal.

Fig. 83 The Python environmental protection agency wants to seal it in a cement chamber, with pictorial messages to future civilizations warning them about the danger of using sudo to install random Python packages. Source: Randall Munroe, xkcd.com/1987

Install JupyterLab

Now that we have a Python environment, it’s time to install Jupyter.

Task: In Anaconda Navigator set package filtering to ‘All’. Then head for ‘jupyterlab’ in the package list and mark it for install. A click on ‘Apply’ starts installation. Alternatively, run conda install jupyterlab in a terminal (make sure you have activated the correct environment).

Fig. 84 The filter dropdown provides several filters for the package list.

Note

Although you selected only one package for install, many more will be installed due to dependencies. JupyterLab requires a number of other packages and those packages may require others again. Conda manages such dependencies for us.

Launch JupyterLab

The Home page of Anaconda Navigator shows a launch button for JupyterLab. Make sure you have selected the correct environment in the dropdown above the launch buttons.

Task: Launch JupyterLab via Anaconda Navigator or from the command line: jupyter lab.

Freshly installed JupyterLab lives in the environment you installed it in. Creating a new Python environment requires to install JupyterLab in this environment, too (if you want to use JupyterLab there).

Default behavior of JupyterLab is to show you your home directory and to disallow visiting directories outside your home directory via JupyterLab. To access a different directory, run JupyterLab from a terminal. Then JupyterLab will show the directory active in the terminal when launching JupyterLab.

Install Python Packages

There’s already a basic Python installation in your environment. So you can use Python in JuyterLab. Additional packages (math, visualization,…) can be installed on demand in the same way we installed JupyterLab. Always keep an eye on the environment name when installing. So things will end up in the correct environment.

Hint

Next to Conda there exist other package managers. A very prominent one is Pip. Conda automatically installs Pip in each environment. To install a package with Pip simply write pip install package_name in a terminal. Conda will take care of packages installed with Pip, too.

Some packages are only available for install with Conda or only for install with Pip. So both package manager have to be used in parallel.

JupyterLab Desktop App

Recently, a JupyterLab Desktop App has been released. This brings the look and feel of usual GUI apps to JupyterLab’s start-up process. After start-up there’s no difference to browser based JupyterLab.

Handling of different Python environments is somewhat more difficult than with plain JupyterLab.