Consider updating docs to use mamba and Mambaforge

[xylar]

I would recommend you update the docs to recommend that folks install Mambaforge and use mamba instead of installing Miniconda3 and using conda as the command. mamba is often an order of magnitude or more faster than conda for solving packages. Mambaforge automatically installs mamba and also points to conda-forge, so it saves confusion and potential errors (such as mixing packages from different channels).

[golaz]

We have similar documentation pages as well for zstash and E3SM Diags.

[xylar]

Yes, if those pages also still recommend conda and Miniconda, they should be updated similarly.

[forsyth2]

I think this is a duplicate (or at least a component) of #397. The equivalent zstash task is E3SM-Project/zstash#252.

[xylar]

@forsyth2, I don't think this is directly related to #397. That is a different workflow. I am referring specifically to https://e3sm-project.github.io/zppy/_build/html/main/getting_started.html#installation-in-a-conda-environment

[forsyth2]

I figured #397 would cover changing everything over to mamba.

[xylar]

Okay, as long as that's the plan. Please also keep Mambaforge in mind there.

This came up because I was trying to help test ChemDyg and it was not a fun experience when I was using conda, following the docs.

[forsyth2]

@xylar Do you have anything like the docs mentioned here that use mamba instead of conda? I've never used mamba before and I don't even think I have it installed. (which mamba shows nothing on Chrysalis.)

[xylar]

It needs to be installed explicitly in your base environment if you start with Miniconda3. It comes installed already if you start with Mambaforge (which also makes conda-forge the highest priority channel by default).

Compass and Polaris use mamba extensively and mention it in many places in their docs. Because they included tools for installing it and creating their own conda environments, their docs don't translate one-to-one to zppy and other tools.

If you're uncomfortable make the updates to the docs, I might be able to do it and have you verify that my changes work and make sense.