..  _install_users:

---------------
Installing HDMF
---------------

HDMF requires having Python 3.9-3.14 installed. If you don't have Python installed and want the simplest way to
get started, we recommend you install and use the `Anaconda Distribution`_. It includes Python, NumPy, and many other
commonly used packages for scientific computing and data science.

HDMF can be installed with ``pip``, ``conda``, or from source. HDMF works on Windows, macOS, and Linux.

Option 1: Using pip
-------------------

If you are a beginner to programming in Python and using Python tools, we recommend that you install HDMF by running
the following command in a terminal or command prompt:

.. code::

   pip install hdmf

Option 2: Using conda
---------------------

You can also install HDMF using ``conda`` by running the following command in a terminal or command prompt:

.. code::

   conda install -c conda-forge hdmf

.. _Anaconda Distribution: https://www.anaconda.com/download