Conda update packages except python

Question

I am a beginner in python and I am using an older version of anaconda which has the 3.5.2 version of python, because I would like to use tensorflow with it. I have some outdated packages that I would like to update with "conda update all". Is there a way to do this without updating python from 3.5 to 3.6, which is incompatible with tensorflow?

Answer 1

Short Answer

conda update --all --dry-run 2>/dev/null |
    grep -Fe '-->' |
    cut -d' ' -f3 |
    grep -ve 'python' |
    xargs conda update

---

Long Answer

Step 1: Dry run to check packages to be updated

Command

conda update --all --dry-run

Result

Collecting package metadata (current_repodata.json): done
Solving environment: done

## Package Plan ##

  environment location: //anaconda3/envs/general


The following packages will be UPDATED:

  astroid                                      2.3.1-py37_0 --> 2.3.2-py37_0
  ca-certificates                               2019.8.28-0 --> 2019.10.16-0
  openssl                                 1.0.2t-h1de35cc_1 --> 1.1.1d-h1de35cc_3
  pip                                         19.2.3-py37_0 --> 19.3.1-py37_0
  pylint                                       2.4.2-py37_0 --> 2.4.3-py37_0
  python                                   3.7.0-hc167b69_0 --> 3.7.4-h359304d_1
  sqlite                                  3.30.0-ha441bb4_0 --> 3.30.1-ha441bb4_0



DryRunExit: Dry run. Exiting.

---

Step 2: Get rid of messages from stderr (optional, but clearer)

Command

conda update --all --dry-run 2>/dev/null

Result

Collecting package metadata (current_repodata.json): done
Solving environment: done

## Package Plan ##

  environment location: //anaconda3/envs/general


The following packages will be UPDATED:

  astroid                                      2.3.1-py37_0 --> 2.3.2-py37_0
  ca-certificates                               2019.8.28-0 --> 2019.10.16-0
  openssl                                 1.0.2t-h1de35cc_1 --> 1.1.1d-h1de35cc_3
  pip                                         19.2.3-py37_0 --> 19.3.1-py37_0
  pylint                                       2.4.2-py37_0 --> 2.4.3-py37_0
  python                                   3.7.0-hc167b69_0 --> 3.7.4-h359304d_1
  sqlite                                  3.30.0-ha441bb4_0 --> 3.30.1-ha441bb4_0

---

Step 3: Extract the lines with package names

Command

conda update --all --dry-run 2>/dev/null |
    grep -Fe '-->'

Result

  astroid                                      2.3.1-py37_0 --> 2.3.2-py37_0
  ca-certificates                               2019.8.28-0 --> 2019.10.16-0
  openssl                                 1.0.2t-h1de35cc_1 --> 1.1.1d-h1de35cc_3
  pip                                         19.2.3-py37_0 --> 19.3.1-py37_0
  pylint                                       2.4.2-py37_0 --> 2.4.3-py37_0
  python                                   3.7.0-hc167b69_0 --> 3.7.4-h359304d_1
  sqlite                                  3.30.0-ha441bb4_0 --> 3.30.1-ha441bb4_0

---

Step 4: Produce a list of package names

Command

conda update --all --dry-run 2>/dev/null |
    grep -Fe '-->' |
    cut -d' ' -f3

Note: Since there are 2 spaces in front of each package name, the package name is the 3rd field of the line. This leads to the argument -f3.

Result

astroid
ca-certificates
openssl
pip
pylint
python
sqlite

---

Step 5: Remove the package(s) not requiring update from the list

Command

conda update --all --dry-run 2>/dev/null |
    grep -Fe '-->' |
    cut -d' ' -f3 |
    grep -ve 'python'

Result

astroid
ca-certificates
openssl
pip
pylint
sqlite

---

Step 6: Update the packages from the list

Command

conda update --all --dry-run 2>/dev/null |
    grep -Fe '-->' |
    cut -d' ' -f3 |
    grep -ve 'python' |
    xargs conda update

Answer 2

Another simple method: conda update --all python=3.5.2

Replace the python version with your currently installed version. This will update all packages, and since the target version for python is already installed, it will not be updated. This also works with multiple packages: conda update all python=3.5.2 spyder=3.3.6.

Answer 3

You can either update them all manually conda update yourpackage

...or you could update them all conda update --all, and then downgrade python again with conda install python=3.5.2.