How to Install PyTorch on Debian 12

PyTorch is an open-source tensor computation library developed by Meta AI. It supports GPU and CPU acceleration and is widely used for building deep learning models in applications like computer vision, NLP, and reinforcement learning.

This article shows you how to install PyTorch on Debian 12 using either pip or Anaconda, create an isolated Python environment, and verify the installation with a simple test script.

Prerequisites

Before you begin, you need to:

• Have access to a Debian 12 server as a non-root user with sudo privileges.

Create a Python Virtual Environment

To isolate your PyTorch project and avoid system-level conflicts, create a virtual environment using the virtualenv tool.

1. Verify that Python 3.9 or later is installed.

   console Copy

   $ python3 --version
   

   Output:

   Python 3.11.2

2. Confirm that pip is available.

   console Copy

   $ pip --version
   

   Output:

   pip 23.0.1 from /usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/pip (python 3.11)

3. Install virtualenv.

   console Copy

   $ sudo apt install virtualenv -y
   

4. Create a new virtual environment named pytorch_project_env.

   console Copy

   $ virtualenv pytorch_project_env
   

5. Activate the virtual environment.

   console Copy

   $ source pytorch_project_env/bin/activate
   

   The shell prompt changes to indicate the active environment.

   (pytorch_project_env) linuxuser@vultr:~$

When to Use pip vs. conda

• Use pip if you're working in a lightweight virtual environment using virtualenv or prefer to manage packages manually.

• Use Anaconda if you're already using Conda environments or need access to a broader scientific computing stack with simplified dependency management.

Both methods install the same PyTorch libraries. Choose the one that best fits your development setup.

Verify Installation

You can verify your PyTorch installation by launching the Python interpreter and running a few basic commands.

1. Open the Python interpreter.

   console Copy

   $ python
   

   Output:

   Python 3.11.2 (main) [GCC 12.2.0] on linux
   Type "help", "copyright", "credits", or "license" for more information.
   >>>

2. Import the PyTorch package.

   python Copy

   >>> import torch
   

3. Print the installed PyTorch version.

   python Copy

   >>> print(torch.__version__)
   

   Output:

   2.7.0+cu126

4. Generate a 5x3 tensor of random values to confirm basic functionality.

   python Copy

   >>> x = torch.rand(5, 3)
   

   python Copy

   >>> print(x)
   

   The output should be similar to:

   tensor([[0.7363, 0.4839, 0.1370],
       [0.6429, 0.0108, 0.9823],
       [0.8575, 0.9642, 0.5792],
       [0.8951, 0.8762, 0.7949],
       [0.7175, 0.0135, 0.9493]])

5. To exit the interpreter, type:

   python Copy

   >>> exit()
   

Conclusion

You successfully installed PyTorch on a Debian 12 server using either pip or Anaconda and verified the setup with a test script. With PyTorch, you can now build and train deep learning models for computer vision, natural language processing, and reinforcement learning.

To explore additional libraries and capabilities, visit the official PyTorch documentation.