Do we like them?

Do we like Anaconda?

Maker of the Anaconda Python and data-science distribution and AI platform; based in Austin, Texas, US.

Our score: 6 out of 10. Useful open-source tooling that much of data science relies on. But its tougher licensing and lawsuits against big firms and demands on non-profits dent the goodwill. A cautious maybe.

Anaconda began as Continuum Analytics, co-founded by Peter Wang and Travis Oliphant, and was renamed Anaconda Inc. in 2017. Wang became CEO in 2019. A third-party profile says David DeSanto took over as CEO in October 2025, and Wang moved to Chief AI and Innovation Officer.

The free tier stays for individuals and small businesses. Organisations with 200 or more employees or contractors need a paid commercial licence. The rule dates to 2020 and was tightened in 2024.

That's where the drama is. Anaconda sued Intel in Delaware federal court, alleging unlicensed use of its software for AI development. It also sued Dell in Texas, with Bloomberg Law reporting the claim of four years of use without a licence.

The Register covered the 2024 squeeze, and critics say legal demands reached non-profit research institutions. Anaconda itself acknowledged that some organisations felt they hadn't been given adequate notice of the changes. It's a legitimate business move, but it cost the company goodwill, so we land at 6.