dynamic conda finding

readme.md

@@ -24,4 +24,6 @@ mim install "mmdet==3.2.0"
 mim install "mmpose==1.2.0"
 pip install "numpy<2"
 pip install "opencv-python==4.11.0.86"
-```
+```
+
+**This installation is referenced in each launchfile by finding the location of your conda base environment, then finding an environment named "mmpose" - if you use a different name, you must change each launch file.**

tracking_re_id/launch/_conda_utils.py

@@ -0,0 +1,66 @@
+"""Utilities for locating conda-environment Python interpreters at launch time."""
+
+import os
+
+
+def find_conda_python(env_name: str) -> str:
+    """Return the path to ``python3`` inside a named conda environment.
+
+    Resolution order
+    ----------------
+    1. ``<ENV_NAME_UPPER>_PYTHON`` environment variable (explicit override).
+       e.g. for *mmpose*: ``MMPOSE_PYTHON=/path/to/python3``
+    2. ``CONDA_EXE`` environment variable — set by ``conda init`` and points to
+       the conda binary inside the base installation.  The base directory is two
+       levels up (``<base>/bin/conda → <base>``).
+    3. A scan of common conda base-directory locations.
+
+    Parameters
+    ----------
+    env_name:
+        Name of the conda environment (e.g. ``"mmpose"``).
+
+    Returns
+    -------
+    str
+        Absolute path to the Python 3 interpreter.
+
+    Raises
+    ------
+    FileNotFoundError
+        If no interpreter is found through any of the above methods.
+    """
+    # 1. Explicit override via environment variable
+    override_var = f"{env_name.upper()}_PYTHON"
+    if p := os.environ.get(override_var):
+        return p
+
+    rel = os.path.join("envs", env_name, "bin", "python3")
+
+    # 2. Derive conda base from CONDA_EXE (most reliable when conda is initialised)
+    if conda_exe := os.environ.get("CONDA_EXE"):
+        base = os.path.dirname(os.path.dirname(conda_exe))
+        candidate = os.path.join(base, rel)
+        if os.path.isfile(candidate):
+            return candidate
+
+    # 3. Scan common install locations
+    common_bases = [
+        "~/miniconda3",
+        "~/anaconda3",
+        "~/mambaforge",
+        "~/miniforge3",
+        "~/opt/miniconda3",
+        "/opt/conda",
+        "/opt/miniconda3",
+        "/opt/anaconda3",
+    ]
+    for base in common_bases:
+        candidate = os.path.join(os.path.expanduser(base), rel)
+        if os.path.isfile(candidate):
+            return candidate
+
+    raise FileNotFoundError(
+        f"Cannot locate Python for conda env '{env_name}'. "
+        f"Set the {override_var} environment variable to the full path of the interpreter."
+    )

tracking_re_id/launch/full_pipeline.launch.py

@@ -15,14 +15,17 @@ To view the annotated image:
 """
 
 import os
+import sys
+
+sys.path.insert(0, os.path.dirname(__file__))
+from _conda_utils import find_conda_python  # noqa: E402
+
 from launch import LaunchDescription
 from launch.actions import ExecuteProcess
 
 
 def generate_launch_description():
-    python_exe = os.path.expanduser(
-        '~/miniconda3/envs/mmpose/bin/python3'
-    )
+    python_exe = find_conda_python('mmpose')
 
     return LaunchDescription([
 

tracking_re_id/launch/ground_plane.launch.py

@@ -6,14 +6,17 @@ Python environment.
 """
 
 import os
+import sys
+
+sys.path.insert(0, os.path.dirname(__file__))
+from _conda_utils import find_conda_python  # noqa: E402
+
 from launch import LaunchDescription
 from launch.actions import ExecuteProcess
 
 
 def generate_launch_description():
-    python_exe = os.path.expanduser(
-        '~/miniconda3/envs/mmpose/bin/python3'
-    )
+    python_exe = find_conda_python('mmpose')
 
     return LaunchDescription([
 

tracking_re_id/launch/reid_headless.launch.py

@@ -6,12 +6,17 @@ To view output:
 """
 
 import os
+import sys
+
+sys.path.insert(0, os.path.dirname(__file__))
+from _conda_utils import find_conda_python  # noqa: E402
+
 from launch import LaunchDescription
 from launch.actions import ExecuteProcess
 
 
 def generate_launch_description():
-    python_exe = os.path.expanduser('~/miniconda3/envs/mmpose/bin/python3')
+    python_exe = find_conda_python('mmpose')
     keyreID_path = os.path.expanduser('~/KeyRe-ID')
 
     return LaunchDescription([

tracking_re_id/launch/reid_pipeline.launch.py

@@ -23,12 +23,17 @@ Viewing the output
 """
 
 import os
+import sys
+
+sys.path.insert(0, os.path.dirname(__file__))
+from _conda_utils import find_conda_python  # noqa: E402
+
 from launch import LaunchDescription
 from launch.actions import ExecuteProcess
 
 
 def generate_launch_description():
-    python_exe = os.path.expanduser('~/miniconda3/envs/mmpose/bin/python3')
+    python_exe = find_conda_python('mmpose')
     keyreID_path = os.path.expanduser('~/KeyRe-ID')
 
     return LaunchDescription([

tracking_re_id/launch/single_person_demo.launch.py

@@ -1,14 +1,17 @@
 """Launch single_person_loc_node using the mmpose conda environment's Python."""
 
 import os
+import sys
+
+sys.path.insert(0, os.path.dirname(__file__))
+from _conda_utils import find_conda_python  # noqa: E402
+
 from launch import LaunchDescription
 from launch.actions import ExecuteProcess
 
 
 def generate_launch_description():
-    python_exe = os.path.expanduser(
-        '~/miniconda3/envs/mmpose/bin/python3'
-    )
+    python_exe = find_conda_python('mmpose')
 
     node_module = 'tracking_re_id.single_person_loc_node'
 

tracking_re_id/launch/single_person_headless.launch.py

@@ -6,14 +6,17 @@ pipeline where visualisation is handled elsewhere.
 """
 
 import os
+import sys
+
+sys.path.insert(0, os.path.dirname(__file__))
+from _conda_utils import find_conda_python  # noqa: E402
+
 from launch import LaunchDescription
 from launch.actions import ExecuteProcess
 
 
 def generate_launch_description():
-    python_exe = os.path.expanduser(
-        '~/miniconda3/envs/mmpose/bin/python3'
-    )
+    python_exe = find_conda_python('mmpose')
 
     node_module = 'tracking_re_id.single_person_loc_node'