The default Python version installed on most systems is often outdated and not recommended for development. Miniforge provides a minimal installer for Conda, allowing you to create isolated Python environments with the latest versions and necessary packages.
First, let’s check if you have Python installed and where it’s located:
which python
This should return either empty or point to /usr/bin/python.
Download the latest Miniforge installer: bash wget https://github.com/conda-forge/miniforge/releases/latest/download/Miniforge3-Linux-x86_64.sh
Run the installer: bash bash Miniforge3-Linux-x86_64.sh
Follow the prompts to complete the installation.
After installation, check your Python location again: bash which python
It should now point to something like <path_to_home>/miniforge3/bin/python.
Activate the base Miniforge environment: bash mamba activate
To deactivate when needed: bash mamba deactivate