Can one download Anaconda (Linux) on Raspberry Pi directly from Anaconda's website?
I have a Raspberry Pi 3B+ with Raspbian OS, and it already has Python installed, but I've always used Anaconda with the Spyder IDE.
I'm pretty new to Linux so I am wondering if I can go directly to Anaconda's website and download the Linux distribution to install it?
I want to make sure so I don't mess up anything. How would this affect the current Python installation on the Pi?
1 Answer
Can I go directly to Anaconda's website and download the Linux distribution to install it?
Yes and no. You can download the proper files from Continuum (they make Anaconda/Miniconda), but you need to make certain the distribution your download matches your CPU architecture. In the case of the Raspberry Pi 3B+, this is an ARM chip (which isn't the same type of chip found in a regular desktop PC). Therefore, you need an ARM distribution of Miniconda.
You should have a look at this Stack Overflow question if you want step-by-step instructions on how to get the proper version of Miniconda for the Raspberry Pi 3B+ and install it. Currently, the second answer appears to have the most up-to-date "How-To".
How would this affect the current Python installation on the Pi?
To the best of my knowledge, if you followed the instructions above, Miniconda would be installed along side Python 2 and Python 3 (already installed on the Pi) and its default environment would (likely) be set as your default Python installation. Anaconda/Miniconda is designed to be self-contained and thus shouldn't affect other versions of Python on the Pi.
I've always used Anaconda with the Spyder IDE.
As a small side note, Spyder can be installed separately from Anaconda with pip (e.g. pip install spyder or python -m pip install spyder). I wouldn't recommend this on Linux (or your Pi), but anecdotally, it was a breeze to install without Anaconda on Windows 7 (Python 3.6.8 with Spyder 3.3.5).
