How to know which Python is running in Jupyter notebook?

Question

I use Jupyter notebook in a browser for Python programming, I have installed Anaconda (Python 3.5). But I'm quite sure that Jupyter is running my python commands with the native python interpreter and not with anaconda. How can I change it and use Anaconda as interpreter?

Solution 1

from platform import python_version

print(python_version())

This will give you the exact version of python running your script. eg output:

3.6.5

Solution 2

import sys
sys.executable

will give you the interpreter. You can select the interpreter you want when you create a new notebook. Make sure the path to your anaconda interpreter is added to your path (somewhere in your bashrc/bash_profile most likely).

For example I used to have the following line in my .bash_profile, that I added manually :

export PATH="$HOME/anaconda3/bin:$PATH"

EDIT: As mentioned in a comment, this is not the proper way to add anaconda to the path. Quoting Anaconda's doc, this should be done instead after install, using conda init:

Should I add Anaconda to the macOS or Linux PATH?

We do not recommend adding Anaconda to the PATH manually. During installation, you will be asked “Do you wish the installer to initialize Anaconda3 by running conda init?” We recommend “yes”. If you enter “no”, then conda will not modify your shell scripts at all. In order to initialize after the installation process is done, first run source <path to conda>/bin/activate and then run conda init

Solution 3

import sys
print(sys.executable)
print(sys.version)
print(sys.version_info)

Seen below :- output when i run JupyterNotebook outside a CONDA venv

/home/dhankar/anaconda2/bin/python
2.7.12 |Anaconda 4.2.0 (64-bit)| (default, Jul  2 2016, 17:42:40) 
[GCC 4.4.7 20120313 (Red Hat 4.4.7-1)]
sys.version_info(major=2, minor=7, micro=12, releaselevel='final', serial=0)
 

Seen below when i run same JupyterNoteBook within a CONDA Venv created with command --

conda create -n py35 python=3.5 ## Here - py35 , is name of my VENV

in my Jupyter Notebook it prints :-

/home/dhankar/anaconda2/envs/py35/bin/python
3.5.2 |Continuum Analytics, Inc.| (default, Jul  2 2016, 17:53:06) 
[GCC 4.4.7 20120313 (Red Hat 4.4.7-1)]
sys.version_info(major=3, minor=5, micro=2, releaselevel='final', serial=0)

also if you already have various VENV's created with different versions of Python you switch to the desired Kernel by choosing KERNEL >> CHANGE KERNEL from within the JupyterNotebook menu... JupyterNotebookScreencapture

Also to install ipykernel within an existing CONDA Virtual Environment -

http://ipython.readthedocs.io/en/stable/install/kernel_install.html#kernels-for-different-environments

Source --- https://github.com/jupyter/notebook/issues/1524

 $ /path/to/python -m  ipykernel install --help
 usage: ipython-kernel-install [-h] [--user] [--name NAME]
                          [--display-name DISPLAY_NAME]
                          [--profile PROFILE] [--prefix PREFIX]
                          [--sys-prefix]

Install the IPython kernel spec.

optional arguments: -h, --help show this help message and exit --user Install for the current user instead of system-wide --name NAME Specify a name for the kernelspec. This is needed to have multiple IPython kernels at the same time. --display-name DISPLAY_NAME Specify the display name for the kernelspec. This is helpful when you have multiple IPython kernels. --profile PROFILE Specify an IPython profile to load. This can be used to create custom versions of the kernel. --prefix PREFIX Specify an install prefix for the kernelspec. This is needed to install into a non-default location, such as a conda/virtual-env. --sys-prefix Install to Python's sys.prefix. Shorthand for --prefix='/Users/bussonniermatthias/anaconda'. For use in conda/virtual-envs.

Solution 4

You can check python version using

!python -V

Python 3.6.5 :: Anaconda, Inc.

Or

!python --version

Python 3.6.5 :: Anaconda, Inc.

---

You can add Conda environment to your jupyter notebook

Step 1: Create a Conda environment.

conda create --name firstEnv

Step 2: Activate the environment using the command as shown in the console.

conda activate firstEnv

conda install -c conda-forge <package-name>

E.g.

conda install -c conda-forge tensorflow

Step 3: set this conda environment on your jupyter notebook

conda install -c anaconda ipykernel

python -m ipykernel install --user --name=firstEnv

Step 4: Just check your Jupyter Notebook, to see firstEnv

---

You can refer this article

https://medium.com/@nrk25693/how-to-add-your-conda-environment-to-your-jupyter-notebook-in-just-4-steps-abeab8b8d084

Solution 5

Looking the Python version

Jupyter menu help/about will show the Python version

View more solutions

Comments

[OneCricketeer]

You could find the kernel settings for the Jupyter configuration and modify the python executable

[Thomas K]

To add more kernelspecs, see also the IPython kernel install docs

[Dark Templar]

this should be selected as the answer to the posted question.

[MrMartin]

The OP is asking to find which executable is running (system/anaconda), not which version. The answer by P. Camilleri is the solution

[TokyoToo]

I'm running this in Spyder and no results but Jupyter is ok. I wonder why?

[AMC]

The Conda docs recommend against adding to the PATH like that.

[P. Camilleri]

@AMC you're right, thank you. I have edited to point towards conda init

[Cecil Curry]

Answer fails to answer the question. Answer fails to succinctly print the version (and related metadata) of the active Python interpreter with a terse one-liner like from sys import version; version. Naturally, 240 upvotes ensue. Makes sense. As @MrMartin suggests, see literally any other answer than this.

[Confounded]

Running sys.executable returns 'C:\\Program Files\\Anaconda3\\python.exe' - not very useful. We already know that it's Python (from the heading of the OP) and what we want to know is the version of Python being used. Thank you.

[P. Camilleri]

@Confounded you may have different intepreters on your machine with different versions. The OP is asking which interpreter is called, not which version.