Using Python Release Candidates in Conda Environments

`this week - 035`

Conda-forge provides Python release candidates through a special python_rc label to ensure they don't accidentally end up in regular installations but are available when explicitly requested.

shell

    # For Python 3.14 RC (when available)
conda create -n py314rc python=3.14.0rc1 conda-forge/label/python_rc::_python_rc --channel conda-forge --override-channels

# For Python 3.13 RC (currently available)
conda create -n py313rc python=3.13.0rc1 conda-forge/label/python_rc::_python_rc --channel conda-forge --override-channels

# Activate the environment
conda activate py313rc

Using the `python_rc` label

shell

    # Create environment with RC
conda create --name py314test python=3.14.0rc1 _python_rc -c conda-forge/label/python_rc -c conda-forge

# Or search for available RCs first
conda search python -c conda-forge/label/python_rc

Direct Installation with Special Dependencies

environment.yml

    yamlname: python314-rc
channels:
  - conda-forge/label/python_rc
  - conda-forge
dependencies:
  - python=3.14.0rc1
  - _python_rc
  - pip
  - numpy  # Install packages as needed

Using Environment.yml to specify Python

Then create the environment:

shell

    conda env create -f environment.yml

create the environment

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