Installation

Requirements

VISTA requires Python 3.9 or higher. It is compatible with Python 3.9, 3.10, 3.11, 3.12, and 3.13.

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