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# Introduction
It began once I was cleansing up my laptop storage and found that Anaconda was taking over 20GB of house. This struck me as unusual. After performing some digging, I discovered that Anaconda comes with many unused Python packages and instruments, which explains its giant set up dimension.
I then started looking for higher options which are sooner and extra light-weight. This led me to find a number of Python package deal managers, and I made a decision to create a listing of them.
On this article, we’ll discover seven of the preferred and trendy package deal managers for Python, full with set up instructions for Linux methods.
# 1. Uv
uv is a next-generation Python package deal and atmosphere supervisor designed for velocity. Written in Rust, it goals to outperform conventional instruments like pip and Poetry whereas sustaining full compatibility with the Python ecosystem.
It is one among my favourite instruments to this point, because it supplies quick set up of latest Python packages. It’s light-weight and works finest when utilized in a digital atmosphere.
To put in, please enter the next command in your terminal:
curl -LsSf https://astral.sh/uv/set up.sh | sh
# 2. Pip
pip is Python’s default package deal supervisor, included with most Python installations. It permits customers to put in, improve, and handle packages from the Python Package deal Index (PyPI), forming the spine of most Python environments.
Each Python developer begins right here, as it’s the default package deal supervisor and comes with many useful instruments. Nevertheless, it’s comparatively sluggish in comparison with options like uv.
To put in, please enter the next command in your terminal:
sudo apt replace
sudo apt set up python3-pip -y
# 3. Poetry
Poetry is a dependency and packaging device that simplifies undertaking administration in Python. It manages digital environments, resolves dependencies, and handles publishing seamlessly, all by way of a single configuration file referred to as pyproject.toml.
Poetry is fashionable amongst software program engineers as a result of it supplies them with better management over their Python initiatives.
To put in, please enter the next command in your terminal:
curl -sSL https://set up.python-poetry.org | python3 -
or
# 4. Conda (Anaconda)
Conda is a cross-platform package deal and atmosphere supervisor that’s broadly utilized in information science and machine studying. It’s able to managing each Python and non-Python dependencies, equivalent to CUDA, R, or system libraries, and it comes preloaded with Anaconda distributions.
Nevertheless, there are some downsides to utilizing Conda. It may be sluggish and will take up a big quantity of storage in your laptop. Moreover, it usually comes with lots of pre-installed software program that you just may by no means use or could not even pay attention to.
To put in, please enter the next command in your terminal:
wget https://repo.anaconda.com/archive/Anaconda3-2025.06-1-Linux-x86_64.sh
bash Anaconda3-2025.06-1-Linux-x86_64.sh
# 5. Miniconda
Miniconda is a light-weight model of Anaconda that features Conda and its important instruments. It permits customers to create customized environments with out the surplus of preinstalled packages, making it superb for environment friendly and reproducible setups.
In case you are on the lookout for the same workflow to Anaconda however choose a leaner and sooner possibility, Miniconda is one of the best various.
To put in, please enter the next command in your terminal:
wget https://repo.anaconda.com/miniconda/Miniconda3-latest-Linux-x86_64.sh
bash Miniconda3-latest-Linux-x86_64.sh
# 6. Mamba
Mamba is a quick, drop-in substitute for Conda, written in C++. It dramatically accelerates dependency fixing and atmosphere creation, making it a favourite amongst information scientists who work with giant environments. It has largely changed Miniconda because the go-to device for a quick and sturdy Python package deal supervisor, notably for machine studying and information science workflows.
To put in, please enter the next command in your terminal:
curl micro.mamba.pm/set up.sh | bash
(or inside Conda)
conda set up mamba -n base -c conda-forge
# 7. Pixi
Pixi is a cutting-edge package deal supervisor inbuilt Rust by the Conda group to unify atmosphere administration throughout totally different programming languages. It’s absolutely reproducible, cross-platform, and very quick, making it superb for groups that handle combined expertise stacks.
Whereas Pixi is spectacular, it hasn’t gained as a lot recognition as uv. Much like uv, Pixi gives fast and highly effective administration of Python dependencies, however it additionally supplies cross-language help.
To put in, please enter the next command in your terminal:
curl -fsSL https://pixi.sh/set up.sh | bash
# Conclusion
In case you are a newbie in information science, begin with Anaconda. It is beginner-friendly and lets you get productive shortly since many important instruments and libraries come preinstalled. This fashion, you’ll be able to concentrate on studying slightly than spending time on setup.
As you acquire extra expertise, think about using uv for a extra streamlined and sooner day-to-day workflow. When you choose to stay inside the conda ecosystem, mamba is a robust various for information science workflows.
In the end, one of the best Python package deal supervisor relies on your private preferences, undertaking wants, workforce conventions, reproducibility necessities, and the steadiness you search between comfort and efficiency. Choose the choice that most accurately fits your present stage, and be ready to adapt as your abilities and initiatives evolve.
Abid Ali Awan (@1abidaliawan) is a licensed information scientist skilled who loves constructing machine studying fashions. At present, he’s specializing in content material creation and writing technical blogs on machine studying and information science applied sciences. Abid holds a Grasp’s diploma in expertise administration and a bachelor’s diploma in telecommunication engineering. His imaginative and prescient is to construct an AI product utilizing a graph neural community for college kids battling psychological sickness.
