SW:Python Implementations

At present, we have three "flavors" of Python.

High performance, locally built

Python modules that were built from source on our systems

High performance, prebuilt by Intel

Two Python modules (Python/2.7.12-2017.0.035 and Python/3.5.2-2017.0.035) built by Intel that include a number of Python libraries, all compiled with Intel optimizations. These include Anaconda and a number of other utiliies. More information can be found at Intel's Python distribution page.

Low performance, provided by Anaconda

Anaconda(2/3) modules that were built elsewhere but include a number of precompiled Python libraries. More information on using prebuilt virtual environments can be found on our Anaconda page.

User's wanting to use Python with other applications on the system that were built with Python (they will have Python in the version), should use the Python that matches their application. This generally precludes the use of Anaconda or the Intel Python modules

User's only wanting to use Python in isolation or with just Python modules, might find the Anaconda versions easier to use.

User's demanding the best optimized Python might want to use the Intel provided versions. Note, however, that HPRC staff has limited experience with these versions.

Python libraries

Prebuilt

For the first Python above, there are a number of tools/libraries already built to support applications that needed them. You can use the module command to search for those available. NOTE: Be sure to match Python versions.... e.g. don't try to mix Python-2.7.10 modules with Python-2.7.12 or Python-3.5.3. For more details, see our Toolchains page.

For Anaconda and the Intel Pythons, there are a number of libraries already included.