anaconda – Why do I have to specify the python version when creating a new conda environment?

I think that bit of documentation is outdated and is a hold-over from pre-v4.4, when the recommended practice was to put the base env’s bin/ directory on PATH. In Conda v4.4+, the base env is no longer accessible by default when another env is activated.

To have Python in an env, one must explicitly request it to be installed, e.g.,

conda create --name env python

Note, one doesn’t have to specify a version.

In the end, this should be seen as an advantage, since it allows users to create non-Python envs and keeps the base env isolated.