Installation

Requirements

VISTA requires Python 3.13 or higher.

Installing from PyPI

The easiest way to install VISTA is from PyPI using pip:

pip install vista-imagery

This will install VISTA and all of its dependencies.

Installing from Source

To install VISTA from source, clone the repository and install in development mode:

git clone https://github.com/awetomaton/VISTA.git
cd VISTA
pip install -e .

Development Installation

For development, install with the optional development dependencies:

pip install -e ".[dev]"

This installs additional tools for testing and code quality:

  • pytest - Testing framework

  • pytest-qt - PyQt testing support

  • black - Code formatter

  • ruff - Fast Python linter

Conda Environment

If you prefer using conda, you can create an environment and install VISTA:

conda create -n vista python=3.13
conda activate vista
pip install vista-imagery

Verifying Installation

After installation, verify that VISTA is correctly installed by running:

vista --version

Or launch the application:

vista

You should see the VISTA main window appear.

Dependencies

VISTA depends on the following packages:

  • astropy - Astronomy and astrophysics library

  • darkdetect - Dark mode detection

  • h5py - HDF5 file support

  • numpy - Numerical computing

  • pandas - Data analysis and manipulation

  • PyQt6 - Qt GUI framework

  • pyqtgraph - Scientific graphics and GUI library

  • pyshp - Shapefile reading/writing

  • scikit-image - Image processing

  • scipy - Scientific computing

  • shapely - Geometric operations

These dependencies are automatically installed when you install VISTA.

Troubleshooting

PyQt6 Installation Issues

If you encounter issues installing PyQt6, make sure you have the necessary system dependencies:

Linux (Ubuntu/Debian):

sudo apt-get install python3-pyqt6

macOS:

PyQt6 should install without issues via pip. If you encounter problems, try installing via conda:

conda install -c conda-forge pyqt

Windows:

PyQt6 should install without issues via pip. Ensure you have the latest version of pip:

python -m pip install --upgrade pip

Permission Errors

If you get permission errors during installation, try using a virtual environment:

python -m venv vista_env
source vista_env/bin/activate  # On Windows: vista_env\Scripts\activate
pip install vista-imagery

Or use the --user flag:

pip install --user vista-imagery