Difference of using activate & directly call python in anaconda virtual environment

Question

I first install anaconda2, then install anaconda3 in envs.

E:\>conda info -e

# conda environments:
#
base                  *  D:\Anaconda2
py3                      D:\Anaconda2\envs\py3

Then I want to execute a python3 script test.py . There maybe 2 methods to do that:

1.

E:\>activate py3

(py3) E:\>python test.py
hello world

(py3) E:\>deactivate

2.

E:\>D:\Anaconda2\envs\py3\python test.py
hello world

What's the difference? What's the suggested way or any potential issue if I use one of them?

Answer 1

Both are same. Activate helps you with not having to type in the full path to python interpreter everytime