description: Explore various methods to install Ultralytics using pip, conda, git and Docker. Learn how to use Ultralytics with command line interface or within your Python projects.
Ultralytics provides various installation methods including pip, conda, and Docker. Install YOLOv8 via the `ultralytics` pip package for the latest stable release or by cloning the [Ultralytics GitHub repository](https://github.com/ultralytics/ultralytics) for the most up-to-date version. Docker can be used to execute the package in an isolated container, avoiding local installation.
Install the `ultralytics` package using pip, or update an existing installation by running `pip install -U ultralytics`. Visit the Python Package Index (PyPI) for more details on the `ultralytics` package: [https://pypi.org/project/ultralytics/](https://pypi.org/project/ultralytics/).
You can also install the `ultralytics` package directly from the GitHub repository. This might be useful if you want the latest development version. Make sure to have the Git command-line tool installed on your system. The `@main` command installs the `main` branch and may be modified to another branch, i.e. `@my-branch`, or removed alltogether to default to `main` branch.
Conda is an alternative package manager to pip which may also be used for installation. Visit Anaconda for more details at [https://anaconda.org/conda-forge/ultralytics](https://anaconda.org/conda-forge/ultralytics). Ultralytics feedstock repository for updating the conda package is at [https://github.com/conda-forge/ultralytics-feedstock/](https://github.com/conda-forge/ultralytics-feedstock/).
If you are installing in a CUDA environment best practice is to install `ultralytics`, `pytorch` and `pytorch-cuda` in the same command to allow the conda package manager to resolve any conflicts, or else to install `pytorch-cuda` last to allow it override the CPU-specific `pytorch` package if necesary.
Clone the `ultralytics` repository if you are interested in contributing to the development or wish to experiment with the latest source code. After cloning, navigate into the directory and install the package in editable mode `-e` using pip.
Utilize Docker to effortlessly execute the `ultralytics` package in an isolated container, ensuring consistent and smooth performance across various environments. By choosing one of the official `ultralytics` images from [Docker Hub](https://hub.docker.com/r/ultralytics/ultralytics), you not only avoid the complexity of local installation but also benefit from access to a verified working environment. Ultralytics offers 5 main supported Docker images, each designed to provide high compatibility and efficiency for different platforms and use cases:
The above command initializes a Docker container with the latest `ultralytics` image. The `-it` flag assigns a pseudo-TTY and maintains stdin open, enabling you to interact with the container. The `--ipc=host` flag sets the IPC (Inter-Process Communication) namespace to the host, which is essential for sharing memory between processes. The `--gpus all` flag enables access to all available GPUs inside the container, which is crucial for tasks that require GPU computation.
Alter `/path/on/host` with the directory path on your local machine, and `/path/in/container` with the desired path inside the Docker container for accessibility.
See the `ultralytics` [requirements.txt](https://github.com/ultralytics/ultralytics/blob/main/requirements.txt) file for a list of dependencies. Note that all examples above install all required dependencies.
PyTorch requirements vary by operating system and CUDA requirements, so it's recommended to install PyTorch first following instructions at [https://pytorch.org/get-started/locally](https://pytorch.org/get-started/locally).
CLI requires no customization or Python code. You can simply run all tasks from the terminal with the `yolo` command. Check out the [CLI Guide](usage/cli.md) to learn more about using YOLOv8 from the command line.
Arguments must be passed as `arg=val` pairs, split by an equals `=` sign and delimited by spaces ` ` between pairs. Do not use `--` argument prefixes or commas `,` between arguments.
YOLOv8's Python interface allows for seamless integration into your Python projects, making it easy to load, run, and process the model's output. Designed with simplicity and ease of use in mind, the Python interface enables users to quickly implement object detection, segmentation, and classification in their projects. This makes YOLOv8's Python interface an invaluable tool for anyone looking to incorporate these functionalities into their Python projects.
For example, users can load a model, train it, evaluate its performance on a validation set, and even export it to ONNX format with just a few lines of code. Check out the [Python Guide](usage/python.md) to learn more about using YOLOv8 within your Python projects.
The Ultralytics library provides a powerful settings management system to enable fine-grained control over your experiments. By making use of the `SettingsManager` housed within the `ultralytics.utils` module, users can readily access and alter their settings. These are stored in a YAML file and can be viewed or modified either directly within the Python environment or via the Command-Line Interface (CLI).
### Inspecting Settings
To gain insight into the current configuration of your settings, you can view them directly:
!!! example "View settings"
=== "Python"
You can use Python to view your settings. Start by importing the `settings` object from the `ultralytics` module. Print and return settings using the following commands:
```python
from ultralytics import settings
# View all settings
print(settings)
# Return a specific setting
value = settings['runs_dir']
```
=== "CLI"
Alternatively, the command-line interface allows you to check your settings with a simple command:
```bash
yolo settings
```
### Modifying Settings
Ultralytics allows users to easily modify their settings. Changes can be performed in the following ways:
!!! example "Update settings"
=== "Python"
Within the Python environment, call the `update` method on the `settings` object to change your settings:
The table below provides an overview of the settings available for adjustment within Ultralytics. Each setting is outlined along with an example value, the data type, and a brief description.
| Name | Example Value | Data Type | Description |
