Anaconda, Inc. has (rather silently) changed the terms of service ([TOS](https://www.anaconda.com/pricing/terms-of-service-faqs)) for the `defaults` channel in 2020. This means that institutions with more than 200 employes (including academic) have to pay license fees if they make use of the `defaults` channel (which might be in the worst case 50$ per month $\times$ employes $\times$ months since the change of TOS).
Anaconda, Inc. has (rather silently) changed the terms of service ([TOS](https://www.anaconda.com/pricing/terms-of-service-faqs)) for the `defaults` channel in 2020. This means that institutions with more than 200 employes (including academic) have to pay license fees if they make use of the `defaults` channel (which might be in the worst case 50$ per month $\times$ employes since the change of TOS). Anaconda, Inc. also started to actively enforce the new policy, e.g. [against Intel](https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69029637/anaconda-inc-v-intel-corporation/).
This raised some uncertainty regarding the use of conda.
This raised some uncertainty regarding the use of conda.
This document tries to give the needed background knowledge and a guideline that allows you to easily and safely use the free and open part of the conda ecosystem (i.e. avoid the `defaults` channel).
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@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ In order to remove an old conda distribution (like miniconda/anaconda) you need
- Remove the installation directory (e.g. `~/miniconda3/`). Note that this typically includes your environments which you might want to keep (see below).
- Make sure that your shell's configuration file does not contain any traces of the old conda distribution, i.e. a block starting with `# >>> conda initialize >>>` and ending with `# <<< conda initialize <<<` or any `export` statements or modifications of the `PATH` variable. Potentially this can be done auromatically with `conda init --reverse`.
- The official documentation [also contains a guide to transitioning from `defaults` to `conda-forge`](https://conda-forge.org/docs/user/transitioning_from_defaults/)
#### Check existing `conda` environments:
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@@ -55,7 +56,9 @@ In order to remove an old conda distribution (like miniconda/anaconda) you need
-`mamba` does not default to the `defaults` channel.
-`conda` does not default to the `defaults` channel when installed via [miniforge](https://github.com/conda-forge/miniforge/blob/e733f7bbc41f42551e9f02766d8a0301b72fde26/README.md?plain=1#L7-L8)
- Independent of the choice you need to double check the configurations if you have previously used `conda` / `mamba` or you install conda environments using exported yaml files.
- Nowadays most features of `mamba` (in particular the solver) have been intregrated in `conda`.
- Nowadays most features of `conda` (in particular the solver) have been intregrated in `mamba`.
- Mamba is a slightly faster solver because it was built particularly with performance in mind
- Nowadays `conda` and `mamba` are nearly equivalent, i.e. `mamba` covers most of `conda`'s functionality and `conda` uses `mamba`'s solver by default. Some aspects of `mamba` might be slightly faster. You can use aliases to retain script compatibility.
#### Check your configuration:
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@@ -126,5 +129,7 @@ As discussed above, with minimal effort, both can be used without using the prol
This mixes two different concepts. `miniforge` is a conda distribution and `conda-forge` a conda channel. Both are part of the solution.
All other recommentations only apply to python (and are therefore no full alternative) or are unrelated to the actual question.
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).
