Step 1: Set up a virtual Python environment

The most recent version of MapReader supports Python versions 3.9-3.12.

Method 1: Using conda (recommended)

We recommend installing MapReader using either Anaconda (installation instructions here) or miniconda (installation instructions here). A discussion of which of these to choose can be found here.

Once you have installed either Ananconda or miniconda, open your terminal and use the following commands to set up your virtual Python environment:

Create a new conda environment for mapreader (you can call this whatever you like, we use mapreader):
```
conda create -n mapreader python=3.12
```
This will create a conda enviroment for you to install MapReader and its dependencies into.
Activate your conda environment:
```
conda activate mapreader
```

If you would like not to use conda, you are more than welcome to set up a virtual Python environment using other methods.

For example, if you would like to use venv, open your terminal and use the following commands to set up your virtual Python environment:

First, importantly, check which version of Python your system is using:
```
python3 --version
```
If this returns a version below 3.9, you will need download an updated Python version. You can do this by downloading from here (make sure you download the right one for your operating system).

You should then run the above command again to check your Python version has updated.
Create a new virtual Python environment for mapreader (you can call this whatever you like, we use mapreader):
```
python3 -m venv mapreader
```
Activate your virtual environment:
```
source mapreader/bin/activate
```