Spyder does not run in Anaconda virtual environment on Windows 10

Question

This is my first post here. I tried to find an answer to this question but to no avail.

Just installed Anaconda2 (2.7.11 Python kernel) on my Win10 machine. I am t

Answer 1

Note: using Windows 10.

To use Spyder in a particular environment, there are at least two options:

1. conda install spyder into that environment - the problem, for me, is that it also wants to install a large number of other packages that I don't want or need in that environment.

I just want to use Spyder for interactive programming/investigation using the particular packages that I have chosen to install in a particular environment. The solution to this is option 2.

Note: I installed Anaconda initially and so have Spyder in the Anaconda environment.

2. Copy the relevant Spyder files from the Anaconda environment into the particular environment(s) you want to use Spyder in:

From: C:\Users\User\Anaconda\Lib\site-packages
Copy: spyderlib & spyderplugins Folders

To: C:\Users\User\Anaconda\envs\[Environment_Name]\Lib\site-packages

From: C:\Users\User\Anaconda\Scripts
Copy: spyder.exe, spyder.ico, spyder_light.ico & spyder-script.py Files

To: C:\Users\User\Anaconda\envs\[Environment_Name]\Scripts

To use Spyder in the desired environment:

1. Activate the environment
2. (Environment_Name) prompt> spyder

This works for me!

Answer 2

Change the Python interpreter in the Preference menu. See pic below.

Answer 3

you just have to write

1. conda create -n myenv python=3.4 spyder
2. conda activate myenv
3. spyder

and for deactivation later on ..

conda deactivate

Answer 4

When you type spyder, the search for this command begins in the paths that the conda environment created. If it cannot find it there, it will go and search at other places. In your case in the paths of the default Anaconda install. So after you activate your environment:

activate myenv

you need to install sypder inside this environment:

(myenv) conda install spyder   

where (myenv) indicates the active environment.