Install with conda

This guide covers installation of MuscleX using the Conda package manager, available through Anaconda or Miniconda.

Prerequisites

MuscleX is tested with Python 3.10, but should work with Python 3.8 through 3.12.

Install Anaconda or Miniconda

Install Anaconda or Miniconda.
After installing Miniconda on Linux or macOS, you may need to run:
```
source ~/.bashrc   # or source ~/.bash_profile
```
Then reopen your terminal to ensure the conda command is available.
On Windows, open the “Anaconda Prompt” from the Start Menu to access conda.

Check Your Python Version

After installing Conda, check your Python version to ensure it’s within the supported range (3.8–3.12):

Linux/macOS:
```
python3 --version
```
Windows (Anaconda Prompt):
```
python --version
```

If your version is outside the supported range, continue with the steps below to create a new Conda environment with Python 3.10.

Configure Channels (if needed)

To ensure access to all dependencies, you may want to explicitly add:

conda config --add channels conda-forge
conda config --add channels bioconda

Create and Activate a Conda Environment

Note: Only use a Conda-managed environment when installing via Conda. If you’re using pip, use venv instead.

conda create -n musclex python=3.10
conda activate musclex

Using a virtual environment is recommended to avoid conflicts with system packages.

Install MuscleX

Install Latest Stable Release

conda install -c biocat_iit musclex

Install a Specific Version (e.g., v1.27.0)

conda install -c biocat_iit musclex=1.27.0

Beta and pre-release versions are not available via Conda as it does not support installing directly from GitHub. If you need a beta or development version, use the pip method instead.

Verifying Installation

To confirm that MuscleX was installed correctly:

conda list musclex

Running MuscleX

Ensure your environment is activated:

conda activate musclex

Then run a module:

musclex xv

To deactivate:

conda deactivate

Troubleshooting

Missing GUI: If you encounter GUI errors (e.g., related to PyQt or Qt platform plugins), install the required GUI toolkit:
```
conda install pyqt
```

For additional help, visit the GitHub Issues page.