conda-global

Global tool installation for conda — install CLI tools into isolated environments and make them available on PATH via trampolines.

Overview

conda-global lets you install command-line tools (like gh, ruff, bat) into isolated conda environments and expose them on your PATH without polluting any project environment. It works like pipx for Python tools or pixi global for the pixi ecosystem, but for the entire conda package ecosystem.

For one-off command execution without installing a persistent PATH tool, use conda-exec, installed separately with conda install -c conda-forge conda-exec:

conda exec ruff check .

Quick start

# Install a tool
conda global install gh

# Use it from anywhere
gh --version

# List installed tools
conda global list

# Update all tools
conda global update

# Remove a tool
conda global uninstall gh

How it works

Each tool gets its own isolated conda environment. A small Rust trampoline binary (provided by the conda-trampoline package) acts as a launcher — it reads a JSON config, sets up the environment, and launches the real binary with zero activation overhead.

The manifest lives at ~/.conda/global.toml; environments and trampolines live under ~/.conda/global/. See the docs for details.

Installation

conda install -c conda-forge conda-global

Then add the bin directory to your PATH:

conda global ensurepath

Commands

Command	Description
conda global install <pkg>	Install a tool into an isolated environment
conda global uninstall <env>	Remove a tool and its environment
conda global add <pkg> -e <env>	Add a dependency to an existing tool env
conda global remove <pkg> -e <env>	Remove a dependency from a tool env
conda global list	List installed tools
conda global update [-e <env>]	Update one or all tools
conda global sync	Reconcile filesystem with manifest
conda global expose <name>=<bin> -e <env>	Expose a binary on PATH
conda global hide <name> -e <env>	Remove a binary from PATH
conda global tree -e <env>	Show dependency tree
conda global pin -e <env>	Prevent upgrades
conda global unpin -e <env>	Allow upgrades
conda global ensurepath	Add bin directory to PATH
conda global edit	Edit global.toml

A standalone cg alias is also available (cg install ruff, etc.).

License

BSD-3-Clause