Installing Mobilehand On Modern Linux With Conda: A 2025 Guide

Dec 6, 2025 by Alex Johnson 63 views

Hey there! If you're anything like me, you're probably diving into some cool projects and running into the occasional snag. Recently, I was trying to get the Mobilehand repository up and running in 2025, and let me tell you, it wasn't a walk in the park. The main culprit? Some older dependencies, especially torchvision=0.6.0. Conda channels don't always play nicely with older packages, but don't worry, I've got you covered. This guide will walk you through the fixes to get Mobilehand installed smoothly on your modern Linux system using Conda. Let's get started!

The Installation Hurdles: PackagesNotFoundError

So, you're probably here because you're staring down the dreaded PackagesNotFoundError. This usually pops up when Conda can't find the specific package versions you've requested. In my case, torchvision=0.6.0 was the main troublemaker. Conda's package repositories are constantly evolving, and sometimes older versions like this get phased out. The original environment.yaml file, which is a blueprint for Conda to set up your environment, specifies the exact versions of the packages needed for the project. When these versions aren't available, Conda throws an error, and your installation grinds to a halt. This is a pretty common issue when working with older projects or when trying to replicate an environment exactly. You might also run into this with other dependencies, but the key is understanding how to tell Conda where to find what it needs. Don't worry, it's not as scary as it sounds. We'll be updating the environment.yaml file to make sure everything lines up.

Understanding the Problem

The issue primarily arises from how Conda manages packages and their dependencies. Conda searches through its channels (like pytorch, conda-forge, defaults) to find the specified packages. These channels are essentially online repositories. However, over time, package versions get updated, and older versions may be removed or archived to make room for newer ones. When the environment.yaml file specifies a package version that's no longer hosted in these channels, Conda throws the PackagesNotFoundError. This is especially true for projects that haven't been actively updated in a while. In the context of Mobilehand, the torchvision=0.6.0 version is the main source of the problem, but other packages might cause similar errors. Conda tries its best to resolve dependencies, but if it can't find what it needs, it's game over until you make a change. The beauty of Conda is that it helps manage dependencies, but sometimes, you need to provide a little extra guidance. So, let's look at how to guide Conda and get Mobilehand installed correctly.

Why This Matters

Why should you even care about this? Well, if you want to run the Mobilehand project, you need its dependencies. If the dependencies aren't correctly installed, the project won't work. Imagine trying to build a house without the right tools – it's just not going to happen. This fix is crucial for anyone trying to replicate the original environment to develop, test, or simply run the Mobilehand project. It ensures that all the necessary components are present, correctly versioned, and compatible with each other. This is particularly important for projects that rely on specific versions of libraries, which is very common in machine learning and computer vision. By following these steps, you'll ensure that you can get your Mobilehand project running without dependency conflicts, and you can focus on the fun stuff, like exploring the project's capabilities.

The Solution: Updating Your `environment.yaml`

The key to resolving this issue is to modify the environment.yaml file. This file tells Conda exactly which packages to install and where to find them. The original file specified torchvision=0.6.0 directly within the dependencies section. However, as we've seen, Conda can't find this version in its default channels anymore. The fix is pretty simple: move torchvision and any other packages that are giving you trouble to the pip section. Pip is another package manager that can often find older versions that Conda struggles with.

This simple adjustment tells Conda, "Hey, I need these packages, and I want you to install them using pip." Pip will then go out and find the required versions, even if they aren't available through the standard Conda channels. This strategy is useful not just for torchvision but also for other packages that might be missing or causing installation errors. By using pip to handle these specific packages, you're essentially bypassing the Conda search and allowing pip to handle the installation. This is a common and effective workaround for dealing with older or less frequently updated packages, and it is a reliable way to get your project up and running.

Step-by-Step Guide

Open your environment.yaml file: This file is usually located at the root of the Mobilehand project directory. If you haven't found it, check the project's documentation or repository. This file defines your project's environment and lists the required packages and their versions.

Locate the dependencies section: This section lists all the packages that Conda should install. You'll see something like this:

dependencies:
  - numpy=1.19.1
  - open3d=0.10.0.0
  - pip=20.2.2
  - pickleshare=0.7.5
  - pillow=7.2.0
  - python=3.7.7
  - pytorch=1.5.0
  - scipy=1.5.2

Add a pip section: If it doesn't already exist, add a pip section to your environment.yaml file. This is where you'll tell Conda to use pip to install specific packages. This section tells Conda to use pip, which is another package manager, to install specified packages. The pip section will be placed after the dependencies part and will include packages like torchvision, and opencv-python that are not available through the default Conda channels.
```
dependencies:
  - numpy=1.19.1
  - open3d=0.10.0.0
  - pip=20.2.2
  - pickleshare=0.7.5
  - pillow=7.2.0
  - python=3.7.7
  - pytorch=1.5.0
  - scipy=1.5.2
pip:
  - torchvision==0.6.0
  - opencv-python==4.2.0.34
  - chumpy==0.70
```
Move torchvision and other problematic packages: Move torchvision==0.6.0 from the dependencies section to the pip section. Also, include other packages that might be causing you trouble, like opencv-python. Ensure the correct versions are specified. Be precise when listing the package versions. If you specify an incorrect version, Conda will not be able to find the correct packages, and you will run into the same issues again. Specify the version that is required for the project; otherwise, it will not work.
Save the file: Make sure to save the updated environment.yaml file.
Create or update your Conda environment: Open your terminal and navigate to the directory where your environment.yaml file is located. Then, run the following command to create or update your Conda environment. This command tells Conda to read the environment.yaml file and create the environment specified within the file. It will handle the installation of all the packages listed, including the ones we've moved to the pip section.
```
conda env create -f environment.yaml
```
or, if the environment already exists, update it using:
```
conda env update -f environment.yaml
```

Updated `environment.yaml`

Here's the updated environment.yaml file that should resolve the PackagesNotFoundError for torchvision=0.6.0 and similar issues. This is what your environment.yaml file should look like after making the changes:

name: mobilehand
channels:
  - pytorch
  - open3d-admin
  - conda-forge
  - defaults
dependencies:
  - numpy=1.19.1
  - open3d=0.10.0.0
  - pip=20.2.2
  - pickleshare=0.7.5
  - pillow=7.2.0
  - python=3.7.7
  - pytorch=1.5.0
  - scipy=1.5.2
  - pip:
    - torchvision==0.6.0
    - opencv-python==4.2.0.34
    - chumpy==0.70

Testing Your Installation

Once you've updated your environment.yaml file and created or updated your Conda environment, the next step is to test your installation. The main goal is to ensure that all the dependencies are correctly installed and that the project can run without errors. Testing is a crucial step in the software development process, and it helps you verify that your changes have the intended effect. It also ensures that the project can function correctly in the target environment.

Activating the Environment

Before you start testing, you need to activate your Conda environment. This ensures that the correct versions of the packages are loaded.

To activate your environment, use the following command in your terminal:

conda activate mobilehand

This will activate your environment, and you should see the environment name (mobilehand) at the beginning of your terminal prompt.

Running a Sample Script

The easiest way to test your installation is to run a sample script provided with the project. This script will often perform some basic operations to verify that the core functionalities are working. The Mobilehand project might have a script specifically designed for testing or a demo script. Look for a script that imports the main modules and executes some code to check that there are no import errors or runtime exceptions. If the script runs successfully without any errors, it's a good sign that your installation is correct.

Checking for Import Errors

If you don't have a specific test script, you can manually test by importing the main modules or classes used by Mobilehand in a Python interpreter or script. This will help you identify any missing dependencies or version conflicts. If you encounter an ImportError, it means that a required module is not installed or not accessible in your environment. Here's a quick way to do this:

Open a Python interpreter (type python or python3 in your terminal). You must have activated the Conda environment first.
Try importing the main modules used in Mobilehand. For example, if it uses a module called mobilehand.core, type import mobilehand.core. If no errors occur, the import was successful.
If you get an ImportError, go back and double-check your installation steps, especially the environment.yaml file. Verify that all the packages are listed correctly and that the versions match the requirements.

Troubleshooting

If you still encounter issues, here are some troubleshooting tips:

Double-check your environment.yaml file: Make sure you've correctly moved the problematic packages to the pip section and that the versions are correct.
Update Conda: Ensure you have the latest version of Conda installed.
Clean your Conda cache: Sometimes, cached packages can cause issues. You can clean your cache using conda clean --all.
Recreate the environment: Try removing and recreating your Conda environment. This can sometimes resolve lingering issues.
Consult the project's documentation: Refer to the project's official documentation for any specific installation instructions or troubleshooting tips.

Conclusion: Happy Coding!

That's it! By moving torchvision and any other problematic packages to the pip section in your environment.yaml file, you should be able to install Mobilehand without the PackagesNotFoundError error. This is a common and effective solution for projects with older or less readily available dependencies. Remember, dealing with dependencies can sometimes be a bit of a puzzle, but with a little patience and the right approach, you can get everything working smoothly. I hope this guide helps you in your projects. If you have any further issues or questions, don't hesitate to reach out. Happy coding!

For more detailed information on Conda, please check out the official Conda documentation https://docs.conda.io/ to enhance your knowledge and skills in managing environments effectively.