conda-exec#

Ephemeral package execution for conda. Run commands from conda packages without installing them permanently, or run Python scripts with inline dependency metadata.

conda exec ruff check .
conda exec script.py
conda-exec quickstart demo

conda-exec creates a cached, isolated environment, runs the tool or script, and exits. The environment is reused on later runs but is not added to PATH permanently. Think npx or uvx, with conda packages and channels.

Install#

conda install -c conda-forge conda-exec

Usage#

conda exec ruff check .                            # run a tool
ce ruff check .                                    # standalone alias
conda exec "ruff>=0.4" check .                     # pin a version
conda exec --with pytest ruff check .              # add extra packages
conda exec -c bioconda samtools view file.bam      # use a different channel
conda exec script.py                               # run a script with inline deps
conda exec --lock script.py                        # record a repeatable script env

Getting started

Install conda-exec and run your first cached tool.

Quickstart
Tutorials

Walk through first runs, scripts, and lock data.

Tutorials
How-to guides

Run scripts, manage cached environments, and clean up disk.

How-to guides
Run tools

Run command-line tools from conda packages without permanent installs.

Run command-line tools
CLI reference

Complete command-line documentation for conda exec.

CLI reference
Cache layout

How cached environments are structured on disk.

Cache layout
Architecture

Design decisions, solver integration, and how conda-exec fits into the conda plugin ecosystem.

Architecture
Ecosystem fit

When to use conda-exec instead of named environments, conda run, or project managers.

Ecosystem fit