2  Windows Environment

Within this subchapter, we provide steps to install a data science environment on a computer running the Windows operating system.

For a series of walk through videos, please see:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TmTjXuqNnhA&list=PL50Yqb_ZFDeesGQSbqKc_3D0iTbrBvloF&index=1

Many readers may already have a Python installation on their computer. However, the installation may be outdated, missing packages, or incorrectly setup. Thus, we highly recommend re-installing the Python by following the guide below.

Please do not follow these instructions if you are on a Mac! Please select the macOS Environment Setup Guidelines.

2.1 Installing Git on Windows

Video showing the steps to download and install git on Windows 10 or Above

We will aim to install git by using an installer package.

Please do the following:

  1. Open a Web Browser and go to https://git-scm.com/download/win
  2. Select “Click here to download”1
  3. Once done downloading, open the installer
  4. Follow prompts
  • Please make sure to select the “Overide the default branch name for new repositories” option
  • Specify the default name to main.
  1. Close installer when done.
  2. Use lower-left hand Windows menu to open Command Prompt by typing
cmd
  1. Verify the installation by typing into Command Prompt:
git

2.2 Configuring Git on Windows

Introducing Yourself to Git Version Control System on Windows 10 or Above

Inside of Command Prompt, setup git by typing:

git config --global user.name "FirstName LastName"
git config --global user.email netid@illinois.edu

where FirstName and LastName correspond to your full name and netid@illinois.edu should be your Illinois e-mail address.

2.3 Installing Miniconda 3 on Windows

Video depicting the steps to download and install Miniconda3 with Python 3.9 on Windows 10

We need to download and install Miniconda 3. Please perform the following steps:

  1. Open a web browser and go to: https://docs.conda.io/en/latest/miniconda.html
  2. Choose the “Miniconda3 Windows 64-bit”2 option.
  3. Open the downloaded installer.
  4. Follow the steps to completion.
  5. Open Command Prompt
    • By typing in “search” in the lower left-hand corner cmd.
    • Select Run as Administrator to open the terminal.
  6. Ensure that conda was installed correctly and is up-to-date by typing:
conda update -n base -c defaults conda

2.4 Installing the pre-defined conda Data Science environment on Windows

Video depicting the steps to download and install the Data Science (ds) conda Environment on Windows 10 or Above

With the software prerequisites done, we will now install the data science environment.

  1. Open a web browser.
  2. Go to the following URLs:
  3. Right click and select “Save as…” or use the keyboard shortcut [CNTRL + S]
  4. Open the Downloads folder by using “Show in Folder” option on a downloaded file.
  5. Move the two configurations files from Downloads onto the Desktop by dragging and dropping.
  6. Open Command Prompt
    • Version 1:
      • By typing in “search” in the lower left-hand corner cmd.
      • Select Run as Administrator to open the terminal.
    • Version 2:
      • Or, use Windows Key + R to open Run box.
      • Inside of the box, type: cmd
      • Press Ctrl + Shift + Enter to open an administrator command line.
  7. In Command Prompt, we will navigate to where the configuration file is saved by typing:
cd %HOMEPATH%\Desktop

If you have OneDrive enabled, you may need to use:

cd OneDrive\Desktop
  1. Rename the ds.yaml.txt to ds.yaml by typing:
rename ds.yaml.txt ds.yaml
  1. Using the configuration file downloaded onto the desktop we will create the ds conda environment by typing:
# Create an environment called "ds" with packages installed.
conda env create -f ds.yaml

2.5 Using the Data Science (ds) Environment

Once done, the ds conda environment can be used by typing in Command Prompt:

# Change from "base"/global into ds environment
conda activate ds

To return to the global environment, type in Command Prompt:

# Return to "base"/global environment
conda deactivate

  1. The URL for the latest git installer for Windows is: https://github.com/git-for-windows/git/releases/download/v2.37.2.windows.2/Git-2.37.2.2-32-bit.exe↩︎

  2. The URL for the latest Miniconda 3 installer for Windows is: https://repo.anaconda.com/miniconda/Miniconda3-latest-Windows-x86_64.exe↩︎