How to install python singularity container with sandbox

Python is a versatile and most popular programming language. It is easy to learn and always known for its simplicity and readability. Python programming language is mostly used for machine learning and automation. It’s widely used in various fields such as web development, data analysis, artificial intelligence, scientific computing, and automation, making it one of the most popular languages in the world today. To install and set up a Python Singularity container with sandbox mode, follow these steps:

Prerequisites

• Singularity: Ensure that Singularity is installed on your system. You can install it using your package manager or by following the Singularity installation guide.
• Root Access: Sandbox mode requires root privileges since it creates a writable directory where the container’s file system resides.

Steps to Install Python in a Singularity Sandbox Container

1. Create a Singularity Sandbox Container:

First, create a sandbox container from a base image (e.g., Ubuntu):

sudo singularity build --sandbox python_sandbox docker://ubuntu:20.04

This command pulls the Ubuntu 20.04 image from Docker Hub and creates a sandbox container named python_sandbox.

1. Enter the Container:

Enter the sandbox container in writable mode:

sudo singularity shell --writable python_sandbox

2. Install Python Inside the Container:

Once inside the container, you can install Python and other necessary packages:

apt-get update

apt-get install -y python3 python3-pip

3. Exit the Container:

After installing Python, you can exit the container:

exit

4. Verify the Installation:

You can re-enter the container to verify that Python is installed correctly:

singularity shell python_sandbox

Inside the container, check the Python version:

python3 --version

5. Run Python Applications:

You can now run Python applications within this sandbox container or further customize the environment by installing additional Python packages using pip:

pip3 install <package_name>

Summary

You’ve now set up a Singularity sandbox container with Python installed. You can continue customizing the container, or export it as a new Singularity image using:

sudo singularity build python_container.sif python_sandbox

This approach provides a writable and customizable environment for your Python applications.