How do I check how many python installations I have on my Mac? I am currently runing Tahoe 16.0.1 and python is already present on my mac from Apple but I also installed Anaconda which came with its own python. I am using environments in Anaconda to create python programs. I want to make sure I don’t have more python installations than I am supposed to have. Can someone help me with this? I am been looking at resources online but am getting more confused so would appreciate some help!
Not sure if this is the right platform to ask this - if there is another platform I should use, please let me know!
There isn’t a number of installations that you are “supposed to have”. Anaconda will install Python in each environment you need it in, and that’s fine.
You should avoid using the version that was installed by Mac OS. They use that for managing the OS and your changes might break things (and they might be erased by a software update).
Normally, Conda installs in your home directory, in a subdirectory named something like miniconda3. I think the precise name depends on the particular Conda/Anaconda installation script. On my Mac, ~/miniconda3/envs contains each Conda environment I’ve defined.
I imagine there’s a way to install Conda more centrally, but that’s not generally necessary for a single user computer. It’s been so long since I last installed Conda from scratch I no longer have the install script around to consult. You could poke around in /opt out /usr looking for directories similar to miniconda3. Also, check your login script for clues. My ~/.bashrc file has a Conda initialization section at the bottom.