Problem installing packeages after Colab major python update

[emilioangelina]

As of January 16, 2025, a "No module named" error occurred when attempting to import packages such as RDKit, ParmEd, and others via Conda in a Colab notebook. This issue appears to be linked to a recent update of the Python version used by Google Colab.

[jaimergp]

Hey, I can take a look. Is there any changelog where they describe the update? Why is it "major"?

[emilioangelina]

For instance, when I try to install rdkit with:
!mamba install -c conda-forge rdkit

I get:
Your pinning does not match what's currently installed. Please remove the pin and fix your installation
Pin: python=3.11
Currently installed: conda-forge/linux-64::python==3.10.13=hd12c33a_0_cpython

[jaimergp]

Ah ok, I was scared heh. I think you can work around this by installing a Python 3.11 miniconda. For example:

import condacolab
condacolab.install_from_url("https://repo.anaconda.com/miniconda/Miniconda3-py311_24.11.1-0-Linux-x86_64.sh")

[emilioangelina]

Thank you! I thought it would be harder to resolve.

[jaimergp]

I need to cut a new release with updated defaults so you don't have to use the custom URL but for now that will work. Sadly Miniforge passed from building with Python 3.10 to using 3.12 so we will need a custom Py311 build...

[jaimergp]

Can you give the new RC a try @emilioangelina?

!pip install https://github.com/conda-incubator/condacolab/archive/py311.tar.gz
import condacolab
condacolab.install()

If that works, I'll cut a new release. Thanks!

[emilioangelina]

It worked! RDKit and other libraries are installed and imported correctly now. Thank you, @jaimergp!

[jaimergp]

0.1.10 is released!