ModuleNotFoundError for spyder-kernels module installed via pip

Question

I am attempting to use conda to install spyder-kernels and instantiate a kernel on a remote server as per the instructions here: https://docs.spyder-ide.org/ipythonconsole.html

When I run the command python -m spyder_kernels.console I get an error:

/home/selah/anaconda3/bin/python: Error while finding module specification for 'spyder-kernels.console' (ModuleNotFoundError: No module named 'spyder-kernels')

However, I know that earlier today this command worked fine.

Any ideas about what is going on and how I might fix it?

Version info:

[selah@lothal ~]$ conda --version
conda 4.6.2
[selah@lothal ~]$ conda list | grep spyder-kernels
spyder-kernels            0.3.0                    py36_0  
[selah@lothal ~]$ find -name '*spyder-kernels*'
./anaconda3/pkgs/spyder-kernels-0.3.0-py36_0
./anaconda3/pkgs/spyder-kernels-0.3.0-py36_0.tar.bz2
./anaconda3/conda-meta/spyder-kernels-0.3.0-py36_0.json

Answer 1

Given your comment:

"However, I know that earlier today this command worked fine."

You may have a conda virtual environment set up which has become deactivated. Try this to see all your available conda environments:

conda env list

If there are any, you can do:

conda list -n whicheverenvyouchoose

to see if a given one has spyder_kernels installed.

If and when you find it, simply do:

conda activate whicheverenvyouchoose

If you somehow don't have any, first, create a conda virtual environment for your work with the following:

conda create -n whateveryoudcalltheenv python=x.y anaconda

where x.y is your preferred version of python.

then do:

.  activate whateveryoudcalltheenv

Now, go ahead and install your packages via:

conda install -n whateveryoudcalltheenv stuff

At that point, you should be good to go.

When you're done with working in that environment, just:

source deactivate

No need to name it.