Setting up the Working Environment
+Follow the instructions for yuour Operating System and test your installation. If you experience any issues, write a message on the Ms Teams channel of the module. Setting up the Python environment is necessary for:
+-
+
- Executing the Jupyter Notebooks of the Lab sessions of the course. +
- Preparing your own Jupyter Notebooks for the assignments (one each). +
We will use Minconda
to handle our working environment. Miniconda is a free minimal installer for conda. It is a small bootstrap version of Anaconda that includes only conda, Python, the packages they both depend on, and a small number of other useful packages (like pip, zlib, and a few others)
Set up Miniconda (and Python) on Ms Windows
+Installation
+-
+
- Install Miniconda:
+
-
+
- Option 1: On a UoL Machine: Download and install Miniconda from here. This will install Miniconda and Python in
C:\
. If this process is aborted because it requires administrator rights, pressStart
, selectInstall University Applications
, type and chooseMiniconda
.
+ - Option 2, Recommended: Install Miniconda on your personal Laptop: Follow the instructions here. +
+ - Option 1: On a UoL Machine: Download and install Miniconda from here. This will install Miniconda and Python in
- During the installation, leave the default settings. In particular, when asked whom to “Install Miniconda for”, choose “Just for me”. +
Important: If you do choose to work on University Machines you will have to reinstall Miniconda
every lab session unless you use a PC where Miniconda has been installed already.
Alternatively, you can work on the lab notebooks directly on the web. This does not require to install Miniconda
. However, it represents a much slower option, especially when setting up the environment. To do so, you can access the data and the lab notebooks in the \labs
directory from a virtual copy of the course repository here. If you opt for this option, you do not need to follow the rest of the instructions below.
Set up the Directories
+-
+
- Create a folder where you want to keep your work conducted throughout this course. For example, call it
envs456
. You can save it wherever you want. If you are working on a university machine, it could be worth creating it inM:/
, which should your “virtual” hard-disk.
+ - Download the data and the images for running and rendering the jupyter notebooks. +
- Unzip the folders and move the nested folders into the folder
envs456
.
+ - Create another folder called
labs
+
The folder structure should look like:
+envs456/
+├── data/
+├── labs_img/
+└── labs/
+Set up the Python Environment
+-
+
- Download the
envs456.yml
from GitHub by clicikingDownload raw file
, top right at this page
+ - Save it in the folder
envs456
created before.
+ - Type in the search bar and find the
Anaconda Prompt (miniconda 3)
. Launch it. The terminal should appear.
+
-
+
- In the Anaconda Terminal write:
conda env create -n envs456 --file C:\envs456\envs456.yml
and pressEnter
; if the file is located elsewhere you’ll need to use the corresponding file path.
+ - If you are prompted any questions, press
y
. This process will install all the packages necessary to carry out the lab sessions.
+ - In the Anaconda Terminal write
conda activate envs456
and pressEnter
. This activates your working environment.
+ - Necessary on University machines, otherwise Optional: Configuration of Jupyter Notebooks
+
-
+
- In the Anaconda Terminal, write
jupyter server --generate-config
and press enter. This, at least in Windows, should create a file to:C:\Users\username\.jupyter\jupyter_server_config.py
.
+ - Open the file with a text editor (e.g. Notepad++), do a
ctrl-f
search for:c.ServerApp.root_dir
, uncomment it by removing the and change it toc.ServerApp.notebook_dir = 'C:\\your\\new\\path
, for example the directory where you created theenvs456
folder. In the University Machines, it is advised to work on the directoryM:\
.
+ - Save the file and close it. +
+ - In the Anaconda Terminal, write
Start a Lab Session
+-
+
- Download the Jupyter Notebook of the session in your folder. Choose one jupyter notebook and click
Dowload raw file
as shown below
+
-
+
- Save the file in the
labs
folder within yourenvs456
folder on your machine.
+ - Type in the search bar, find and open the
Anaconda Prompt (miniconda 3)
.
+ - In the Anaconda Terminal write and run
conda activate envs456
.
+ - In the Anaconda Terminal write and run
jupyter notebook
. This should open Jupyter Notebook in your default browser.
+
-
+
- Navigate to your course folder in and double click on the notebook downloaded in step 1. +
- You can now work on your copy of the notebook. +
Follow these instructions and test your installation prior to the first Lab Session (Wed, 31st of January). If you experience any issues, write a message on the Ms Teams channel of the module. Setting up the Python environment is necessary for:
+-
+
- Executing the Jupyter Notebooks of the Lab sessions of the course. +
- Preparing your own Jupyter Notebooks for the assignments (one each). +
Set up Miniconda (and Python) on MAC
+Installation
+To install Miniconda on your personal laptop, Follow the instructions here. During the installation, leave the default settings. In particular, when asked whom to “Install Miniconda for”, choose “Just for me”.
+Set up the Directories
+-
+
- Create a folder where you want to keep your work conducted throughout this course. For example, call it
envs456
. You can save it wherever you want. For example, Elisabetta has named her folderenvs456
and it’s in her Dropbox inUsers/PIETROST/Library/CloudStorage/Dropbox/envs456
+ - Download the data and the images for running and rendering the jupyter notebooks. +
- Unzip the folders and move the nested folders into the folder
envs456
.
+ - Create another folder called
labs
+
The folder structure should look like:
+envs456/
+├── data/
+├── labs_img/
+└── labs/
+
+Set up the Python Environment
+-
+
- Download the
envs456.yml
from GitHub by clicikingDownload raw file
, top right, at this page
+ - Save it in the folder
envs456
created before.
+ - Type in the search bar and open the Terminal. +
- In the Terminal write
conda env create -n envs456 --file envs456.yml
and pressEnter
. This will need to be modified according to where you placed theenvs456
folder. For example, Elisabetta has named her folderenvs456
and it’s in her Dropbox inUsers/PIETROST/Library/CloudStorage/Dropbox/envs456/envs456.yml
. If you created theenvs456
folder on your desktop, the path would beDesktop/envs456
.
+
-
+
- If you are prompted any questions, press
y
. This process will install all the packages necessary to carry out the lab sessions.
+
Start a Lab Session
+-
+
- Download the Jupyter Notebook of the session in your folder. Choose one jupyter notebook and click
Dowload raw file
as shown below
+
-
+
- Save the file in the
labs
folder within yourenvs456
folder on your machine.
+ - Type in the search bar, find and open the Terminal. +
- In the Terminal write and run
conda activate envs456
.
+ - In the Terminal write and run
jupyter notebook
.
+
-
+
- This should open Jupyter Notebook in your default browser. You should see something like this: +
-
+
- Navigate to your folder. You can now work on your copy of the notebook. +