# Installing Anaconda

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This tutorial will cover the steps on how to install Anaconda. 

*Note for Advanced users: For those who wish to have a lightweight installation, can install miniconda or miniForge, however for this course we will show you how to use Anaconda Navigator. If you've never used the programs before then using Anaconda is recommended.*

### What is Anaconda?
Anaconda Distribution is a popular open-source Python distribution specifically designed for scientific computing, data science, machine learning, and artificial intelligence applications. It simplifies the set up and use of Python for data science, machine learning, and scientific computing. It comes with all the important tools you need, like NumPy, Pandas, and JupyterLab, so you don’t have to install everything separately. The Conda package manager helps you install and update software without worrying about breaking other programs. It also lets you create separate environments, so different projects don’t interfere with each other. Additionally, Anaconda includes programs like JupyterLab for interactive coding, and Spyder a MATLAB-like IDE.


## Instructions
1. Find the latest version of Navigator from the official Anaconda Inc. website: [Download Anaconda](https://www.anaconda.com/download) or [Download Now](https://www.anaconda.com/download/success) without having to sign-up.
2. Press the *Download Now* button.
3. Press the *Skip registration* button below the submit button, otherwise submit your email address to subscribe to the Anaconda email list.
4. Under Anaconda Installers press *Download* or find the appropriate version for your operating system below.

Proceed to next section for your respective operating system.

### Windows
5. Once the download is complete, double click the executable (.exe) file to start the installer. Proceed with the installation instructions.
![Welcome screen](figures/installingAnaconda_windows_installer_01_welcome.png)

![Terms and conditions](figures/installingAnaconda_windows_installer_02_terms.png)

6. Select the *Just Me* recommended option. 
![Install for](figures/installingAnaconda_windows_installer_03_for.png)

7. You can leave the destination folder as is, just make sure you have a minimum of ~5 GB available storage space. Press *Next* to proceed.
![Installation destination](figures/installingAnaconda_windows_installer_04_destination.png)

8. It is recommended to register Anaconda3 as the default python version if you already have an instance of python installed. Otherwise, you can leave the checkboxes as defaults.
![Avanced Options](figures/installingAnaconda_windows_installer_05_advanced.png)

![Installing](figures/installingAnaconda_windows_installer_06_installing.png)

![Installing 2](figures/installingAnaconda_windows_installer_07_installing2.png)

![Complete](figures/installingAnaconda_windows_installer_08_installing_complete.png)

![Cloud](figures/installingAnaconda_windows_installer_09_cloud.png)

![Finish](figures/installingAnaconda_windows_installer_10_finish.png)

9. You made it! Anaconda is now installed, you are ready for launch. Assuming that you didn't add Anaconda to PATH environment variable you will need to start navigator from the start menu.

### Mac/Linux
Anaconda provides installation documentation for Mac and Linux users, please refer to the [documentation page](https://docs.anaconda.com/anaconda/install/).