CLI reference#

All commands are available as conda global <cmd>. A standalone cg alias is also provided for convenience.

install#

Install a tool into an isolated environment.

conda global install <package> [-e <env>] [-c <channel>...] [--expose <mapping>...] [--force]

package: The conda package to install.
-e, --environment: Environment name. Defaults to the package name.
-c, --channel: Channel to search. Repeatable. Defaults to conda-forge.
--expose: Expose mapping as name=binary or just name. Repeatable. Defaults to exposing the binary matching the package name.
--force: Force reinstall if the tool already exists.

# Basic install
conda global install ruff

# Custom environment name and channel
conda global install cuda-toolkit -e cuda -c nvidia -c conda-forge

# Expose specific binaries
conda global install python -e py314 --expose python3.14 --expose pip=pip3.14

uninstall#

Remove a tool, its environment, and all exposed trampolines.

conda global uninstall -e <env>

-e, --environment: Environment to remove. Required.

conda global uninstall -e ruff

add#

Add a dependency to an existing tool environment.

conda global add <package> -e <env>

package: Package to add.
-e, --environment: Target environment. Required.

conda global add numpy -e py314

remove#

Remove a dependency from a tool environment.

conda global remove <package> -e <env>

package: Package to remove.
-e, --environment: Target environment. Required.

conda global remove numpy -e py314

list#

List installed tools.

conda global list [--json]

--json: Output as JSON instead of a table.

$ conda global list
Tool   Dependencies   Channel       Exposed   Pinned
ruff   ruff >=0.4     conda-forge   ruff      yes
gh     gh             conda-forge   gh

update#

Update one or all tools to the latest versions.

conda global update [-e <env>]

-e, --environment: Update only this environment. If omitted, updates all tools. Pinned tools are skipped unless targeted explicitly.

# Update everything
conda global update

# Update one tool
conda global update -e gh

sync#

Reconcile the filesystem with the manifest. Creates missing environments, installs missing packages, and deploys missing trampolines.

conda global sync

This is idempotent — running it multiple times has no effect if everything is already in place.

expose#

Make a binary from a tool environment available on PATH.

conda global expose <mapping> -e <env>

mapping: Format exposed_name=binary_name or just binary_name.
-e, --environment: Source environment. Required.

# Expose binary with same name
conda global expose blackd -e black

# Expose with a different name on PATH
conda global expose fmt=black -e black

hide#

Remove an exposed binary from PATH.

conda global hide <name> -e <env>

name: Exposed name to remove.
-e, --environment: Source environment. Required.

conda global hide fmt -e black

run#

Run a tool from a temporary environment without installing it permanently.

conda global run <package> [-c <channel>...] [-- <args>...]

package: Package to run.
-c, --channel: Channel to search. Repeatable.
args: Arguments passed to the tool. Use -- to separate from conda-global flags.

conda global run cowsay -- "hello from conda"
conda global run bat -c conda-forge -- README.md

tree#

Show the dependency tree for a tool environment.

conda global tree -e <env>

-e, --environment: Environment to inspect. Required.

$ conda global tree -e gh
gh
├── gh 2.74.0  (conda-forge)
│   ├── openssl >=3.0
│   └── libcurl >=8.0
└── ...

edit#

Open the manifest in your editor. Uses $VISUAL, then $EDITOR, falling back to vi.

conda global edit

If the manifest doesn’t exist, it is created first.

ensurepath#

Add the conda-global bin directory to your shell’s PATH.

conda global ensurepath

Appends an export PATH line to ~/.bashrc, ~/.zshrc, or ~/.config/fish/config.fish depending on your current shell. You only need to run this once.

pin#

Prevent a tool from being upgraded by conda global update.

conda global pin -e <env>

-e, --environment: Environment to pin. Required.

unpin#

Allow upgrades for a previously pinned tool.

conda global unpin -e <env>

-e, --environment: Environment to unpin. Required.