Conda create is stuck at "solving package specifications"

Question

I'm trying to create a Python 2.7 virtual environment with Anaconda so I can download some packages that are not compatible with Python 3.4. I'm working in Conda version 4.2.13.

When I type the command conda create -n chemistry python=2.7 anaconda the whole thing freezes at the solving package specifications stage.

Does anyone know what causes this or how I can go about fixing it?

Answer 1

I switched to pyenv, more lightweight and not intrusive on your environment as conda.

#list available python versions
pyenv install -l 
#install
pyenv install 2.7.9
#activate 2.7.9
pyenv global 2.7.9
#check version
python --version
#create virtual env
python -m venv chemistry
#activate env
./chemistry/scripts/activate

For package management you could investigate poetry