Anaconda runs Python

Anaconda runs Python correctly, but it's not a separate language. The main difference lies in the environment surrounding Python.

"Regular" Python
When you install Python from python.org:

• You get the Python interpreter (python.exe)
• You can run your .py files
• You have pip to install libraries
• You manage dependencies yourself

Example:

python my_script.py

Anaconda
Anaconda includes:

• Python
• Hundreds of pre-installed scientific libraries (NumPy, Pandas, Matplotlib, etc.)
• The conda package manager
• Easy creation of separate environments
• Often Jupyter Notebook and Spyder

Example:

conda create -n project python=3.12
conda activate project
python my_script.py

Why use Anaconda?

Let's say:

• Project A uses Python 3.10 + Pandas 1.5

• Project B uses Python 3.12 + Pandas 2.2

With regular Python, this can get complicated.

With Anaconda:

conda create -n projectA python=3.10
conda create -n projectB python=3.12

Each project is isolated.

Do the scripts run differently?

The Python code remains the same:

print("Hello")

will work identically in regular Python or Anaconda.

The difference is that:

• Anaconda often uses its own Python environment.

• Some libraries are already installed.

• The versions may be different.