Conda-DEE-Config -- Conda Digital Exam Environment Configuration
This repository houses the configuration files and scripts for building a TU Delft Conda-based standalone offline installer that includes annually requested software packages. This is suitable for installing on TU Delft's lab computers including those used for digital examinations.
Maintainers
Current:
- Jason K. Moore, ME, j.k.moore@tudelft.nl
- Jan-Maarten Brockhoff, ICT, J.J.M.Brockhoff@tudelft.nl
- Kevin Geboers, Workplace Support Education, k.f.geboers@tudelft.nl
Past:
- Bart Gerritsen, EEMCS, b.h.m.gerritsen@tudelft.nl
Contributing
Managing a university-wide software distribution takes a large effort. At the minimum, we ask that you contribute by opening issues in this repository to report bugs and software/feature requests. At the maximum, help to collaboratively improve the distribution through merge requests and testing the build and installation. We will do our best to address issues and merge requests in a timely manner and will also provide commit rights to those that would like to help maintain this repository. Reach out if that interests you.
Revision history
Version numbering schema: v<year>.<two digit integer>
.
Academic Year | Version | Description |
---|---|---|
2025-2026 | v2025.02 | second testing release for 2025-2026 academic year |
v2025.01 | first testing release for 2025-2026 academic year | |
2024-2025 | v2024.04 | final release for 2024-2025 academic year |
v2024.03 | pre-final release for 2024-2025 academic year | |
v2024.02 | second testing release for 2024-2025 academic year | |
v2024.01 | first testing release for 2024-2025 academic year | |
2023-2024 | v2023.01 | 2023-2024 update |
2022-2023 | v2022.01 | 2022-2023 update |
2021-2022 | v2021.01 | 2021-2022 update |
2020-2021 | v2020.01 | initial make |
Requirements
- Make open source scientific software available in TU Delft computer labs
- Make open source scientific software available for use during TU Delft computer exams
- Software should be at the latest versions (latest within ~18 months) and mutually compatible
- Installation must primarily support Windows (exam computers), but should also install on Linux and Mac OSX
- Installation must be scriptable on Windows
- Software installation must occur on an air-gapped computer (no internet)
Solution
We create a Windows executable installer for a collection of Conda packages using Conda Constructor and script its installation for batch deployment on Windows. We install a set of software packages from Conda Forge and make them available via the Conda package manager.
Process to agree on installation
The goal of agreeing on a joint installation of a conda-based distribution is multifold:
- to avoid a cluttering of (slightly) different Python environments across the infrastructure within the TU Delft
- to avoid intricate and disturbing differences between Python environments used during instruction and exams
- to mitigate the burden of maintaining the configurations involved
This installation is revised and updated in a yearly cycle. ICT-WPS ("Werkplekbeheer") receives an installation instruction, drafted on behalf of all faculties by the team that runs this repository, taking care of the actual implementation of a prepared package. This package may then be deployed through https://software.tudelft.nl and is at the basis of the implementation of the DigitalExam environment.