Add env instructions

README.md

@@ -1,2 +1,109 @@
-# CVND_Exercises
-Exercise notebooks for CVND
+# Computer Vision Nanodegree Program, Exercises
+
+This repository contains code exercises and materials for Udacity's [Computer Vision Nanodegree](https://www.udacity.com/course/computer-vision-nanodegree--nd891) program. It consists of tutorial notebooks that demonstrate, or challenge you to complete, various computer vision applications and techniques. These notebooks depend on a number of software packages to run, and so, we suggest that you create a local environment with these dependencies by following the instructions below.
+
+---
+
+# Configure and Manage Your Environment with Anaconda
+
+Per the Anaconda [docs](http://conda.pydata.org/docs):
+
+> Conda is an open source package management system and environment management system 
+for installing multiple versions of software packages and their dependencies and 
+switching easily between them. It works on Linux, OS X and Windows, and was created 
+for Python programs but can package and distribute any software.
+
+## Overview
+Using Anaconda consists of the following:
+
+1. Install [`miniconda`](http://conda.pydata.org/miniconda.html) on your computer. If you already have `conda` or `miniconda` installed, you should be able to skip this step and move on to step 2.
+2. Create a new `conda` [environment](http://conda.pydata.org/docs/using/envs.html) using the files in this repository.
+3. Each time you wish to work on any exercises, activate your `conda` environment!
+
+---
+
+## Installation
+
+**Download** the latest version of `miniconda` that matches your system.
+
+**NOTE**: There have been reports of issues creating an environment using miniconda `v4.3.13`. If it gives you issues try versions `4.3.11` or `4.2.12` from [here](https://repo.continuum.io/miniconda/).
+
+|        | Linux | Mac | Windows | 
+|--------|-------|-----|---------|
+| 64-bit | [64-bit (bash installer)][lin64] | [64-bit (bash installer)][mac64] | [64-bit (exe installer)][win64]
+| 32-bit | [32-bit (bash installer)][lin32] |  | [32-bit (exe installer)][win32]
+
+[win64]: https://repo.continuum.io/miniconda/Miniconda3-latest-Windows-x86_64.exe
+[win32]: https://repo.continuum.io/miniconda/Miniconda3-latest-Windows-x86.exe
+[mac64]: https://repo.continuum.io/miniconda/Miniconda3-latest-MacOSX-x86_64.sh
+[lin64]: https://repo.continuum.io/miniconda/Miniconda3-latest-Linux-x86_64.sh
+[lin32]: https://repo.continuum.io/miniconda/Miniconda3-latest-Linux-x86.sh
+
+**Install** [miniconda](http://conda.pydata.org/miniconda.html) on your machine. Detailed instructions:
+
+- **Linux:** http://conda.pydata.org/docs/install/quick.html#linux-miniconda-install
+- **Mac:** http://conda.pydata.org/docs/install/quick.html#os-x-miniconda-install
+- **Windows:** http://conda.pydata.org/docs/install/quick.html#windows-miniconda-install
+
+**Setup** the `cv-nd` environment. 
+
+```sh
+git clone https://github.com/udacity/CVND_Exercises.git
+cd CVND_Exercises
+```
+
+If you are on Windows, **rename**   
+`meta_windows_patch.yml` to   
+`meta.yml`
+
+**Create** cv-nd.  Running the command below will create a new `conda` environment that has all libraries you need to be successful in this program. This step may take a while, since you the environment is installing all the necessary packages.
+```
+conda env create -f environment.yaml
+```
+
+**Verify** that the cv-nd environment was created in your environments:
+
+```sh
+conda info --envs
+```
+
+**Cleanup** downloaded libraries (remove tarballs, zip files, etc):
+
+```sh
+conda clean -tp
+```
+
+### Uninstalling 
+
+If you ever want to uninstall the environment, you can remove it by name:
+
+```sh
+conda env remove -n cv-nd
+```
+---
+
+## Using Anaconda
+
+Now that you have created an environment, you will need to activate the environment to use it! This must be done **each** time you begin a new working session i.e. open a new terminal window. 
+
+**Activate** the `cv-nd` environment:
+
+### OS X and Linux
+```sh
+$ source activate cv-nd
+```
+### Windows
+Depending on shell either:
+```sh
+$ source activate cv-nd
+```
+or
+
+```sh
+$ activate cv-nd
+```
+
+That's it. Now all of the `cv-nd` libraries are available to you.
+
+To exit the environment when you have completed your work session, simply close the terminal window.
+