Virtualenv

A python virtualenv can be used to install python packages locally in your user account.  Some instructions are here.  It is available as a tool within psana, and is compatible with psana-python.  Execute this command to create a new virtual environment (after setting up the psana psana environment):

virtualenv <directoryName>

where you replace <directoryName> with the name of the directory you would like to create.  Then activate your virtualenv like this:

source <directoryName>/bin/activate.csh     #use this for tcsh
 
or
 
source <directoryName>/bin/activate.sh      #use this for bash

Use "deactivate" to exit the virtualenv.  Install various packages using "pip install <packageName>" as show in these instructions.

Anaconda

Unlike virtualenv, anaconda is not currently compatible with psana-python (we are actively working on this).  But it is a powerful way to install python packages outside of the psana environment.  Instructions are here.