Add correct kernel to conda environment

Question

I am trying to add a new conda environment to be available as a jupyter kernel when I run a Jupyter notebook from my main environment. I've developed a hacky solution but I suspect there's a better way.

I would like to be able to use a kernel from any of my environments from my main environment. To add a new environment, I run the following from my main environment:

python -m ipykernel install --user --name my_new_env

Then, I look at the kernel.json file that was created and I see this:

(my_main_env) ➜  cat kernel.json
{
 "argv": [
  "/Users/<username>/opt/anaconda3/envs/my_main_env/bin/python",
  "-m",
  "ipykernel_launcher",
  "-f",
  "{connection_file}"
 ],
 "display_name": "my_new_env",
 "language": "python",
 "metadata": {
  "debugger": true
 }
}

The display name is correct but I would like it to point to my_new_env, not my_main_env. I can get it to work by editing this file directly, but that seems like a hack. Is there a better way to do this?

you should first activate the env, then start jupyter notebook, or, you can run directly the jupyter binary you are interested in. — alec_djinn, Oct 09 '22 at 16:35
If I'm understanding correctly, this wouldn't make the new environment available as a kernel from my main environment though, right? That's my goal here. — jss367, Oct 10 '22 at 05:41

score 0 · Answer 1 · answered Oct 10 '22 at 07:34

You can call specific jupyter binary from any environment, just call them from their own directory. For example, here I have two envs, one running python 3.8 one running python 3.10, I have installed jupyter in both ending having the following binaries:

/usr/local/Caskroom/mambaforge/base/envs/py38/bin/jupyter

/usr/local/Caskroom/mambaforge/base/envs/py310/bin/jupyter

I can call any of those from my main environment. Each of those will have their kernel running the python binary in their respective /bin folder.

Same goes for the kernel.json I have them in

/usr/local/Caskroom/mambaforge/base/envs/py38/share/jupyter/kernels/python3/kernel.json

/usr/local/Caskroom/mambaforge/base/envs/py310/share/jupyter/kernels/python3/kernel.json

score 0 · Accepted Answer · answered Jan 04 '23 at 19:39

0

Finally figured it out. The key is to specify which Python is calling ipykernel. In your case, you want to go into my_main_env and then run:

/Users/<username>/opt/anaconda3/envs/my_new_env/bin/python -m ipykernel install --user --name my_new_env

answered Jan 04 '23 at 19:39

jss367

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Add correct kernel to conda environment

2 Answers2