ModuleNotFoundError when installing via install_from_url()

[gbayarri]

Hi, I'm installing a condacolab via install_from_url() because I need a conda/mamba with python 3.9 while colab is pinned to 3.10. I tried with several versions of mambaforge, included some of the official website or this:

https://github.com/jaimergp/miniforge/releases/tag/22.11.1-4_colab

I've tried as well with the conda constructor following the instruction of the condacolab pypi but modifying the version to 3.9:

name: condacolab  # you can edit this if you want
version: 0.1      # increment if you change the specs, for reproducibility!

channels:
  - conda-forge
specs:
  - python =3.9  # Python MUST be version 3.7
  - pip
  - conda
  - mamba  # mamba is not needed but recommended

# Pip dependencies are NOT recommended. If you do need them
# uncomment the line below and edit `pip-dependencies.sh`.
# post_install: pip-dependencies.sh

# do not edit below this line
# ---------------------------
installer_type: sh

After running all these installations, I load my environment.yml and the conda list shows the correct version of my dependencies. For example:

!conda list | grep ngl
nglview                   3.0.8              pyh1da8cd4_0    conda-forge

But when doing the import in a cell:

import nglview
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
ModuleNotFoundError                       Traceback (most recent call last)
[<ipython-input-12-dd30d89a3198>](https://localhost:8080/#) in <cell line: 1>()
----> 1 import nglview

ModuleNotFoundError: No module named 'nglview'

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
NOTE: If your import is failing due to a missing package, you can
manually install dependencies using either !pip or !apt.

To view examples of installing some common dependencies, click the
"Open Examples" button below.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

The weirdest thing is that when I import this dependency in pure python it works:

!python
Python 3.9.19 | packaged by conda-forge | (main, Mar 20 2024, 12:50:21) 
[GCC 12.3.0] on linux
Type "help", "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information.
>>> import nglview
>>> nglview.demo()
NGLWidget()

Any idea of what I'm missing?

[jaimergp]

That's a limitation of condacolab 1.x. It needs to match Colab's Python version :/ There's some pending work in main to allow arbitrary versions but I didn't have the time to finalize that.

[mikemhenry]

@jaimergp -- do you have some time to sync up on adding that feature? happy to help!

[jaimergp]

It's been a while so tbh I don't remember much. Looking at the code, I guess we should rethink it a bit and leverage micromamba or pixi more, instead of relying on prebuilt installers. Reach out in conda.zulipchat.com and we can discuss availabilities for a short call or something.