What are the differences between virtualenvs and conda?

What are the differences between virtualenvs and conda?

Virtualenvs and conda are both tools for managing Python environments, but they have different features. Virtualenv is lightweight and focuses on creating isolated Python environments, while conda is a package manager that can handle packages from multiple languages and manage environments.

Which one should I use for my data science projects?

For data science projects, conda is often preferred because it simplifies package management and installation, especially for scientific libraries that have complex dependencies.

Can I use both together?

Yes, you can use both together. You can create a conda environment and then use virtualenv within that environment if needed, but it's usually not necessary.

What are the advantages of using virtualenv?

Virtualenv is lightweight, easy to use, and integrates well with pip, making it a good choice for simple projects where you only need to manage Python packages.