@@ -111,7 +111,8 @@ While these documents are certainly important to raise awareness, they contain a
> The company Anaconda provides very convenient software development environments and libraries for Python and R, especially for beginners. Due to their many years of free availability for research and educational institutions, they are also very popular in training and in the discussion on StackOverflow.
Correct, but it's important to highlight that these statements only apply to the software in the `defaults` channel. The possibilities offered by `conda` and channels like `conda-forge` go far beyond this.
Partially correct, since the software is not provided by Anaconda, but only distributed. All (or allmost all) software that is distributed in the `defaults` channel is FOSS software and distributed in many other (usually free) ways, e.g. `conda-forge`.
Furthermore, it's important to highlight that these statements only apply to the software in the `defaults` channel. The possibilities offered by `conda` and channels like `conda-forge` go far beyond this.
- Proper versioned software environments for all sorts of interpreted and compiled software.
- An easy solution for reproducible science that can be used in large scale production ready deployments.
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@@ -130,4 +131,11 @@ This mixes two different concepts. `miniforge` is a conda distribution and `cond
All other recommentations only apply to python (and are therefore no full alternative) or are unrelated to the actual question.
The Jülich Supercomputing Centre's RSE Team has also [uploaded a recommendation](https://www.fz-juelich.de/en/rse/the_latest/the-anaconda-is-squeezing-us). Notably, the JSC typically encourages the use of virtual environments that are implemented in Python rather than a package manager such as `conda`, as it is better compatible with EasyBuild (including user modules).
Also the Helmholtz Open Science newsletter recently [talked about this topic](https://os.helmholtz.de/en/newsroom/newsletter/106th-newsletter/#c124408)
> Users working in non-commercial or scientific organizations were able to use the software free of charge and were convinced that Anaconda was FOSS – Free and Open Source Software. In fact, this is not the case.
In fact all software that is distributed in Anaconda's `defaults` channel is FOSS software. The channel is only a non-free means of distributing the software in a way that is much more convenient than anything before `conda` was available.
Nowadays, with `conda-forge` equally convenient and free ways are available.
The Jülich Supercomputing Centre's RSE Team has also [uploaded a recommendation](https://www.fz-juelich.de/en/rse/the_latest/the-anaconda-is-squeezing-us). Notably, the JSC typically encourages the use of virtual environments that are implemented in Python rather than a package manager such as `conda`, as it is better compatible with EasyBuild (including user modules).
