Conda Configuration Files

Python Tutorials - Herong's Tutorial Examples

∟Conda Configuration Files

This section provides a quick introduction about the Conda Configuration Files that contain configuration settings for the Conda command and its environments.

What Is Conda Configuration Files? Conda Configuration Files are files containing configuration settings for the Conda command and its environments.

There are several ways to manage settings in Conda configuration files:

1. Use "conda config --show-source" command to display the default Conda configuration file:

herong$ conda config --show-source

==> /home/herong/.condarc <==
auto_activate_base: False
envs_dirs:
  - /usr/local/anaconda3/envs
channels:
  - defaults

2. Add a Conda package channel to the Conda configuration file:

herong$ conda config --add channels conda-forge

herong$ conda config --show-source

==> /home/herong/.condarc <==
auto_activate_base: False
envs_dirs:
  - /usr/local/anaconda3/envs
channels:
  - conda-forge
  - defaults

3. Turn on "auto_activate_base" flag:

herong$ conda config --set auto_activate_base True

4. Turn off "auto_update_conda" flag:

herong$ conda config --set auto_update_conda False

On a Linux system, Conda actually searches for configuration files at multiple places in the order as listed below.

'/etc/conda/.condarc',
'/etc/conda/condarc',
'/etc/conda/condarc.d/',
'/var/lib/conda/.condarc',
'/var/lib/conda/condarc',
'/var/lib/conda/condarc.d/',
'$CONDA_ROOT/.condarc',
'$CONDA_ROOT/condarc',
'$CONDA_ROOT/condarc.d/',
'~/.conda/.condarc',
'~/.conda/condarc',
'~/.conda/condarc.d/',
'~/.condarc',
'$CONDA_PREFIX/.condarc',
'$CONDA_PREFIX/condarc',
'$CONDA_PREFIX/condarc.d/',
'$CONDARC'

If multiple files found, their settings will be merged nicely. If a setting takes multiple values, all values are combined. If a setting takes a single value, the last value wins.