Ansys Python Manager 0.3: Now Available on Linux

Ansys Developer | 05.31.2024

Ansys Python Manager is an efficient Python QT app for streamlining Python usage, simplifying virtual environment management, and facilitating PyAnsys package administration. Various Ansys teams have collaboratively developed this efficient open source app to make contributing to the PyAnsys ecosystem easy.

This article first highlights exciting new features in Ansys Python Manager 0.3 and then briefly describes how to use many of the app's key features.

What’s new in version 0.3?

Ansys Python Manager 0.3 introduces several features that makes it an indispensable tool for Python development within the Ansys ecosystem:

  • Linux support. By introducing support for several Linux environments, including Ubuntu 20.04 and 22.04, Centos-9, RHEL-9, and Fedora 39, the app allows Linux developers and engineers to seamlessly leverage its power.
  • Virtual environment configuration. By streamlining Python virtual environment creation and search path configuration, the app makes managing these environments easier than ever.
  • Mamba. By switching from Conda to Mamba for Python dependencies, the app ensures faster installation and smoother package management.
  • Expedited Python installation. By offering a precompiled version of Python 3.11 specifically for Linux, the app efficiently decompresses the file from the assets location during installation and places it in the appropriate directory.
  • Uninstall with options. By providing a window for uninstalling, the app offers comprehensive options that give you more control over your environment.
  • WSL compatibility. By supporting the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL), the app allows seamless integration across platforms.

Without Ansys Python Manager 0.3, Linux developers and engineers face these challenges:

  • Installing specific versions of Python with the system's package manager requires sudo access.
  • Installing specific versions of Python without the system's package manager is complicated.
  • Configuring Python environments and managing dependencies can be difficult.

What tasks does the app help with?

With Ansys Python Manager, you can easily perform these tasks:

  • Install Python packages.
  • Create, manage, and delete virtual environments.
  • Launch the console, Visual Studio (VS) Code, JupyterLab, Jupyter Notebook, and Spyder.
  • Install Python default packages, including Matplotlib, NumPy, pandas, scikit-learn, and SciPy.
  • List installed Python packages.
  • Install PyAnsys packages.

For an article on the earlier Windows-only version of Ansys Python Manager, see Simplifying Python Environment Management on the Ansys Developer Portal.

Why Python?

Python has emerged as a dominant language across diverse fields, including data science, machine learning, web development, and workflow automation. Ansys Python Manager supports the automatic installation of commonly used Python packages as default packages.

Why PyAnsys?

Ansys initiated PyAnsys as an open source endeavor to create a link between Ansys' core simulation products and the Python ecosystem. Its large set of libraries provide Pythonic interfaces for seamlessly integrating with Ansys products. These libraries enable powerful automation of engineering workflows, parametric studies, and postprocessing of simulation results. By recognizing the value of open source libraries, Ansys is growing a community for the collaborative exchange of experiences, ideas, and enhancements.

How do I install the app?

To install Ansys Python Manager, see the installation information in the Usage instructions section of the Ansys Python Manager documentation.

How do I use the app?

While comprehensive information on using Ansys Python Manager appears in the User guide section of the Ansys Python Manager documentation, abbreviated information on its usage follows. This information assumes that you have already started Ansys Python Manager.

Install Python

You install Python from the Install Python tab. The following image and all subsequent images are from a Linux installation of Ansys Python Manager. If you have a Windows installation, you might notice some slight differences.

  1. Select the type of Python installation:

  2. Select the Python version to install.

    Python 3.8 through 3.12 are supported. Because Python 3.11 is included in the package, choose it for faster installation.

  3. Click Install.

Create virtual environments

A Python virtual environment is an isolated space where you can work on your Python projects, separately from your system-installed Python.

You create virtual environments from the Create virtual environments tab.

  1. In the table, select the Python version to create a virtual environment for.
  2. Provide a name for the virtual environment.
  3. Click Create.

Note: By default, the virtual environment is created in the {user directory}/.local/ansys/.ansys_python_venvs directory. If you want to change where virtual environments are created, see Modify the Ansys Python Manager configuration.

Manage virtual environments

You manage virtual environments from the Manage Python environments tab.

In the table, you select the virtual environment to perform any of the following actions on:

Delete a virtual environment

  1. In the table, right-click the virtual environment to delete.
  2. Select Delete virtual environment from the menu.

Launch a development tool

The Launch options area provides buttons for launching various development tools in the virtual environment selected in the table.

  1. In the table, select the virtual environment to launch the tool in.

  2. Click the button for the desired development tool.

    For example, click Launch Spyder to launch the Spyder IDE (interactive development environment) in the selected virtual environment.

If an IDE is not already installed in the virtual environment, it is automatically installed and launched.

If VS Code is not already installed, Ansys Python Manager provides a link to installation information. If VS Code is installed, the app opens a window for specifying the path to it. By default, the app uses your user's path.

Manage general packages

The General package management area provides two buttons for managing general packages in the virtual environment selected in the table.

  • Install Python default packages: Installs the most up-to-date compatible versions of essential Python packages, including Matplotlib, NumPy, pandas, scikit-learn, and SciPy, in the selected virtual environment.

  • List installed packages: Lists all Python packages installed in the selected virtual environment.

Manage PyAnsys packages

The PyAnsys package management area provides for installing a PyAnsys metapackage or package in the virtual environment selected in the table. A PyAnsys metapackage is essentially a script that installs a collection of PyAnsys packages for a specific Ansys release. These packages are all expected to be compatible.

  1. In the table, select the virtual environment to install PyAnsys packages in.

  2. Use the first drop-down menu to select either PyAnsys-Metapackage or the individual PyAnsys package to install.

  3. Use the second drop-down menu to select the version of the package to install.

  4. Click Install.

Ansys Python Manager downloads and installs the selected package in the selected virtual environment. This might take a few minutes, depending on the package size and your internet bandwidth.

Modify the Ansys Python Manager configuration

By default, Ansys Python Manager creates and lists Python virtual environments in the {user directory}/.local/ansys/.ansys_python_venvs directory. However, you can modify the creation path for virtual environments and the locations to search for them in the Configuration window.

  1. Select File > Configuration to open the Configuration window.

  2. To change the directory where virtual environments are created, provide the path in the default virtual environment create path text box.

  3. To manage the directories to search for virtual environments, take these actions:

    • For each directory to add to the search, type the path in the Locations to search for virtual environments text box and click Add.

    • For each directory to remove from the search, use the dropdown for the Locations to search for virtual environments text box to select the path and click Remove.

  4. To save your configuration changes, click Save.

How do I uninstall Ansys Python Manager?

You uninstall Ansys Python Manager from the Uninstall window.

  1. Select File > Uninstall to open the Uninstall window.

  2. Select checkboxes in this window to indicate if virtual environments, Python installations, and configurations created by Ansys Manager are also to be deleted when uninstalling the app.

  3. Click Uninstall.

How do I check for app updates?

To ensure that you have the latest version of Ansys Python Manager, select File > Check for upates to open the Information window. This window lets you know if a newer version is available, allowing you to decide whether to update the app.

How do I view PyAnsys documentation?

You can view PyAnsys documentation from the PyAnsys Documentation window.

  1. Select Help > PyAnsys documentation to open the PyAnsys Documentation window.

  2. Use the drop-down menu to select the PyAnsys documentation to view or click Open Website to go to the main page of the PyAnsys project documentation, where you can click a card to view the documentation for any PyAnsys package.

Conclusion

The Ansys Python Manager simplifies Python environment management, providing a user-friendly interface for installing and managing Python instsallations, virtual environments, and Python packages.

Whether you’re on Windows or Linux, this collaborative app streamlines Python development. Moreover, it offers multiple options for launching your virtual environment in various IDEs and development environments. By harnessing the power of Ansys Python Manager, you can streamline your Python development workflow.

References

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