ipythonblocks install instructions are missing

[gdevenyi]

Default python installs don't have ipythonblocks, but they're required for the ipython lessons.

I don't see anywhere in the install instructions where ipythonblocks are installed.

[gdevenyi]

So, I think the install instructions are: pip install ipythonblocks

This could be included as an aside somewhere in the python lessons, explaining how other packages are installed?

[rgaiacs]

@gdevenyi Thanks to notice that. Mix distro package manage intallation of Python packages and pip can be a little problematic and for Windows, AFAIK, you will need the newest version (that already include pip) or you will need to install it before.

Another "problem" is that we recommend Anaconda and it has its own package manager named conda: http://www.continuum.io/blog/conda.

[karinlag]

@gdevenyi @r-gaia-cs Does the pip install work on all os-es? And how/where would I ask them to do this?

I am teaching this stuff next week...

[ethanwhite]

Mix distro package manage installation of Python packages and pip can be a little problematic and for Windows, AFAIK, you will need the newest version (that already include pip) or you will need to install it before.

Another "problem" is that we recommend Anaconda and it has its own package manager named conda

conda plays fine with pip, so this shouldn't be an issue I don't think. Anaconda also installs pip and setuptools. So, as long as folks are using the recommended Anaconda installs I don't think these are a concern.

@gdevenyi @r-gaia-cs Does the pip install work on all os-es? And how/where would I ask them to do this?

Yes, as long it is installed and the Python Scripts folder is on the path. This is run from the command line.

[jiffyclub]

On a class-by-class basis it's possible to copy ipythonblocks.py into your class repo wherever it will be used.

[katyhuff]

Note that @ivanov is adding this to the trainingwheels goals https://github.com/ivanov/ipython-trainingwheels/issues/25 .

[ethanwhite]

Thanks again for pointing this out @gdevenyi!

Having thought a bit about the various options my feeling is that the best idea is to add a brief description of how to install this in the Python lecture right at the point that they start using IPython blocks. I think we should add both the pip instructions and then state that if this doesn't work they can just download ipythonblocks.py as @jiffyclub mentions. If folks have installed Anaconda as their default Python pip should work fine and if not we have the direct download instructions as a backup.

@gdevenyi - Would you be up for submitting a PR with the relevant changes to the beginning of novice/python/04-cond.html?

[apawlik]

Please note that: "The "conda pip" command has been removed from conda (as of version 1.8)". In SWC VM (which includes conda) pip install ipythonblocks ends up with an error could not create '/home/swc/anaconda/lib/python2.7/site-packages/ipythonblocks': Permission denied And sudo pip install ends up with sudo: pip: command not found. Maybe I'm using the old VM image but if not, maybe the image could be updated and include ipythonblocks?

[gvwilson]

@jiffyclub if you have time, can you please look at this? And should we create a separate swcarpentry/something-or-other project for managing the VM, just as we have one for managing the Windows installer?

[jiffyclub]

I've updated the VM, it was time to upgrade to the latest lubuntu and Anaconda anyway. I've also fixed the ownership of the anaconda directory that was causing the permissions errors @apawlik saw. ipythonblocks is now installed as well. I'll upload the new image later today.

It wouldn't be a bad idea to make a repo for the VM setup, that way it might be easier for other people to contribute or set up their own VMs. Right now I use a combination of manually typing commands and provisioning with Puppet using this manifest: https://gist.github.com/jiffyclub/5512074.

[gvwilson]

Want me to call it swcarpentry/ubuntu-vm ?

[jiffyclub]

I make our VMs with lubuntu, but in theory it could work on most any Linux variant that Puppet understands. So maybe linux-vm?

[gvwilson]

Shall do.

[jiffyclub]

Here's the link to the updated VM: https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B4Kr6DYkzkQtSTZLQzF4aVB4NDQ&authuser=0. I'm not sure where we store the link to that or I'd double check that it's correct.

[ethanwhite]

We also still need a PR to put the installation instructions at the beginning of novice/python/04-cond.html if anyone has a few minutes.