Installing Software with Pixi

One 2-hour session

Learn how to install and manage open-source software packages for research computing. Installing software is often tricky due project-specific requirements for package versions—which can conflict with other projects—and inconsistent or incomplete install documentation. We’ll focus on using Pixi, a package manager for the conda ecosystem, to create independent, reproducible software environments and install software with ease. We’ll also briefly discuss the unique advantages of using Pixi for Python projects and how Pixi compares to other package managers.

Learning Goals

After completing this workshop, learners should be able to:

• Explain what computing environments are

• Explain what virtual environments are and why they’re useful

• List popular tools for installing software on POSIX computers

• Create and organize project directories for projects

• Initialize projects with Pixi

• Install software with Pixi

The second half of this workshop is modular, and which units are covered is up to the instructor. Each unit lists specific learning goals.