Fix: Zensical 'new' Command Error In Conda Environments

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Zensical 'new' Command Fails: Missing .github Directory in Conda Package

Zensical 'new' Command Fails: Missing .github Directory in Conda Package

Hey guys, have you been wrestling with zensical new not working after installing Zensical with Conda? You're not alone! It seems there's a hiccup, and I'm here to break down the issue and, hopefully, get you back on track. This article delves into why the zensical new command is failing when using a Conda environment, highlighting a missing directory that's present in a PyPI installation. We'll explore the problem, the evidence, and a potential workaround to get your Zensical projects up and running.

The Problem: Missing .github Directory

Zensical is an awesome tool, but it appears that the Conda package might be missing a crucial component compared to its PyPI counterpart. Specifically, when you install Zensical via Conda and then try to create a new project using zensical new my_project, you might run into an error. This is because the Conda package, when installed, doesn't include the .github directory within the zensical/bootstrap directory, which is present in the PyPI installation. This missing directory seems to be essential for the proper functioning of the zensical new command.

This is a real head-scratcher, isn't it? You get everything installed, you're ready to start your new project, and BAM! An error message. It's like you have all the ingredients, but you're missing a key spice. The good news is, we've identified the missing spice – the .github directory. Understanding this helps us work toward a solution, even if the fix isn't immediately obvious.

Comparing Conda and PyPI Installations

Let's take a closer look at the difference. When you install Zensical using Conda, the bootstrap directory (where new projects are initiated) looks like this:

...envs/zensical/lib/python3.14/site-packages/zensical/bootstrap> ls -la
total 32
drwxrwxr-x@  4 avoss  admin    128 Nov  6 12:42 .
drwxrwxr-x@ 13 avoss  admin    416 Nov  6 12:42 ..
drwxrwxr-x@  4 avoss  admin    128 Nov  6 12:42 docs
-rw-r--r--@  2 avoss  admin  12830 Nov  6 08:26 zensical.toml

Notice that the .github directory is missing. Now, let's compare that to an installation from PyPI:

/venvs/zensical/lib/python3.14/site-packages/zensical/bootstrap @❯ ls -la
total 32
drwxrwxr-x@  5 avoss  staff    160 Nov  6 10:16 .
drwxrwxr-x@ 13 avoss  staff    416 Nov  6 10:16 ..
drwxrwxr-x@  3 avoss  staff     96 Nov  6 10:16 .github
drwxrwxr-x@  4 avoss  staff    128 Nov  6 10:16 docs
-rw-rw-r--@  1 avoss  staff  12830 Nov  6 10:16 zensical.toml

See it? The .github directory is present in the PyPI installation. This difference is likely the root cause of the zensical new command failure. It's like the new project setup process relies on files or configurations within that .github directory, which Conda isn't providing.

Packages Installed and Environment Details

Here's a snapshot of the packages installed in the Conda environment and some key environment details. This information provides context. This info lets you know exactly what versions are in play and can be invaluable when troubleshooting.

# packages in environment at /opt/homebrew/Caskroom/miniconda/base/envs/zensical:
#
# Name                     Version          Build               Channel
_python_abi3_support       1.0              hd8ed1ab_2          conda-forge
bzip2                      1.0.8            h80987f9_6
ca-certificates            2025.11.4        hca03da5_0
click                      8.2.1            py314hca03da5_0
cpython                    3.14.0           py314hd8ed1ab_102   conda-forge
deepmerge                  2.0              pyhd8ed1ab_1        conda-forge
expat                      2.7.3            h982b769_0
libcxx                     20.1.8           hd7fd590_1
libffi                     3.4.4            hca03da5_1
libmpdec                   4.0.0            h80987f9_0
libzlib                    1.3.1            h5f15de7_0
lz4-c                      1.9.4            h313beb8_1
markdown                   3.8              py314hca03da5_0
ncurses                    6.5              hee39554_0
openssl                    3.0.18           h9b4081a_0
pip                        25.2             pyh0d26453_1
pygments                   2.19.1           py314hca03da5_0
pymdown-extensions         10.16.1          py314hca03da5_0
python                     3.14.0           h1858270_101_cp314
python-gil                 3.14.0           py314h13117d0_101
python_abi                 3.14             1_cp314
pyyaml                     6.0.2            py314hf107ba7_0
readline                   8.3              h0b18652_0
sqlite                     3.50.2           h79febb2_1
tk                         8.6.15           hcd8a7d5_0
typing-extensions          4.15.0           py314hca03da5_0
typing_extensions          4.15.0           py314hca03da5_0
tzdata                     2025b            h04d1e81_0
xz                         5.6.4            h80987f9_1
yaml                       0.2.5            h1a28f6b_0
zensical                   0.0.4            py310h06fc29a_0     conda-forge
zlib                       1.3.1            h5f15de7_0
zstd                       1.5.7            h817c040_0

And here's a peek at the environment info:

active environment : zensical
    active env location : /opt/homebrew/Caskroom/miniconda/base/envs/zensical
            shell level : 2
       user config file : /Users/avoss/.condarc
 populated config files : /opt/homebrew/Caskroom/miniconda/base/.condarc
          conda version : 25.9.1
    conda-build version : not installed
         python version : 3.13.9.final.0
                 solver : libmamba (default)
       virtual packages : __archspec=1=m1
                          __conda=25.9.1=0
                          __osx=15.6.1=0
                          __unix=0=0
       base environment : /opt/homebrew/Caskroom/miniconda/base  (writable)
      conda av data dir : /opt/homebrew/Caskroom/miniconda/base/etc/conda
  conda av metadata url : None
           channel URLs : https://repo.anaconda.com/pkgs/main/osx-arm64
                          https://repo.anaconda.com/pkgs/main/noarch
                          https://repo.anaconda.com/pkgs/r/osx-arm64
                          https://repo.anaconda.com/pkgs/r/noarch
          package cache : /opt/homebrew/Caskroom/miniconda/base/pkgs
                          /Users/avoss/.conda/pkgs
       envs directories : /opt/homebrew/Caskroom/miniconda/base/envs
                          /Users/avoss/.conda/envs
               platform : osx-arm64
             user-agent : conda/25.9.1 requests/2.32.5 CPython/3.13.9 Darwin/24.6.0 OSX/15.6.1 solver/libmamba conda-libmamba-solver/25.4.0 libmambapy/2.3.2 aau/0.7.3 c/. s/. e/.
                UID:GID : 501:20
             netrc file : None
           offline mode : False

Possible Workarounds

Okay, so we know what's missing. Now, what can we do about it? Here are a couple of potential workarounds you might try:

  1. Manual Copy: The most straightforward solution is to manually copy the .github directory from a PyPI installation of Zensical into the corresponding location within your Conda environment's zensical/bootstrap directory. This is a temporary fix, guys, but it could get you unblocked. Just make sure to reactivate your environment after making the change.
  2. PyPI Install (if feasible): If possible, you could try installing Zensical directly from PyPI instead of using the Conda package. This should include the .github directory, and the zensical new command should work as expected. However, this might introduce compatibility issues if you have other packages in your environment that rely specifically on the Conda version of Zensical. Be cautious, and test thoroughly.
  3. Check for Updates: Keep an eye out for updates to the Conda package. The maintainers might address this issue in a future release. Regularly checking for updates is always a good practice.

Conclusion

So, there you have it, guys. The zensical new command failing in Conda environments is likely due to a missing .github directory. We've explored the problem, compared the installations, and looked at potential workarounds. I hope this helps you get your Zensical projects up and running. Remember, the tech world is full of these little quirks, but with a bit of detective work, we can usually find a way around them. If you run into any other snags or have any other info to share, let's discuss it in the comments below! Happy coding!