opensafely / opensafely/documentation
Python installation on Windows: would recommending a standard or Microsoft Store installation instead of Anaconda be easier for new Python users?
Nobody has claimed this yet.
- Dominant language
- Python
- Stars
- 48
- Forks
- 10
- Avg merge
- 2d 19h
- Merged PRs (30d)
- 17
Description
Currently the docs, here, suggest Windows users to install Anaconda to obtain Python.
This can cause the following confusion for users who are new to Python:
- under the default Anaconda installation process the Anaconda3 folder is not added to the
PATHenvironment variable - the new user opens their repo in VSCode but doesn't realise that they additionally need to launch the Anaconda Prompt (and change its directory to their repo); instead they try to run
pip install opensafelyin the VSCode Terminal (which will be running Powershell or cmd) which fails (becausepipis not on theirPATH, because the Anaconda3 folder wasn't added toPATH).
My guess is that recommending either a standard Python installation, making sure to check the box during the installation process to Add Python 3.# to PATH, or installing one of the Python 3s from the Microsoft Store, e.g., 3.10 is here, would probably be easier for new Python users.
Contributor guide
First steps
- Read the whole issue, then the project's contributing guide.
- Comment on the issue to say you are picking it up — it saves two people doing the same work.
- Fork the repository and make your change on a branch.
- Open a pull request that references the issue number.
Research direction
Start with the install-python documentation page linked in the issue and review the Windows installation guidance, including PATH and VSCode terminal usage. Compare the proposed standard Python and Microsoft Store options, then update the page so a new user can install Python and run pip from their repository without needing Anaconda Prompt.
Written by the indexing model from the issue text.
Assessment
- Tech stack
- python
- Domain
- documentation
- Issue type
- Documentation
- Difficulty
- 2/5
- Estimated time
- 1-2 days
- Activity status
- Stale
- Clarity
- Mostly clear
- Newbie friendliness
- 45/100