File-based Conda environments

Conda environments: how to export to and create from file

Context

Lately I have struggled with replicating Conda environments. Some of them use very specific packages with not so common dependencies and package versions. The following snippet is what has worked best for me.

TL;DR

# Dump conda and pip dependencies
conda activate <env_name>
conda env export --no-builds > environment.yml
pip list --format=freeze > pip-requirements.txt
conda deactivate

# Remove pip-conda duplicates and ensure correct repository dependencies
vim environment.yml

# Copy to remote machine
scp environment.yml <username>@<remote>:<path>

# SSH into remote and create environment
conda env create -name <env_name> -f environment.yml

Once environment.yml and pip-requirements have been created, edit environment.yml to:

1. Remove any duplicate conda-pip dependencies.
2. Update Git-based pip dependencies, e.g. git+https://github.com/<repo>@<commit_hash>

Disclaimer

This method is what has worked for me given my constraints and dependencies. It is not the cleanest approach but it worked.