Update install instructions: tables via pip (remove separate conda installation instruction)

deruyter92 · deruyter92 · commit 94bbcfd0d39c · 2026-02-23T10:09:49.000+01:00
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
@@ -72,11 +72,7 @@ Or as an example for GPU support (please check pytorch docs to get the perfect v
 ```bash
 conda install pytorch cudatoolkit=11.3 -c pytorch
 ```
-- [2] Then, [install `pytables`](https://www.pytables.org/usersguide/installation.html):
-```bash
-conda install -c conda-forge pytables==3.8.0
-```
-- [3] Finally, install `DeepLabCut` (with all functions + the GUI):
+- [2] Then, install `DeepLabCut` (with all functions + the GUI):
 
 ```bash
 pip install --pre  "deeplabcut[gui]"
diff --git a/docs/beginner-guides/beginners-guide.md b/docs/beginner-guides/beginners-guide.md
@@ -50,11 +50,7 @@ pip install torch torchvision --index-url https://download.pytorch.org/whl/cpu
 
 **(2) Install DeepLabCut** 
 
-Alright! Next, we will install `Tables` (also called pytables), which is a package to read the HDF5 files that make up the backbone of data management in DeepLabCut, then we will install all the `deeplabcut` source code 🔥. Please decide which version you want (stable or alpha), then type: 
-
-```
-conda install -c conda-forge pytables==3.8.0
-```
+Alright! Next, we will install all the `deeplabcut` source code 🔥. Please decide which version you want (stable or alpha), then type:
 
 - **Alpha release:**
 ```
diff --git a/docs/installation.md b/docs/installation.md
@@ -19,7 +19,6 @@ need your GPU drivers installed.
 ```bash
 conda create -n DEEPLABCUT python=3.12
 conda activate DEEPLABCUT
-conda install -c conda-forge pytables==3.8.0
 
 # install PyTorch with your desired CUDA version (or for CPU only) - check [their
 ](https://pytorch.org/get-started/locally/) website:
@@ -37,10 +36,6 @@ pip install --pre deeplabcut[gui]
 python -c "import torch; print(torch.cuda.is_available())"
 ```
 
-- Why do we install [pytables](https://www.pytables.org/usersguide/installation.html) with
-`conda` and not `pip`? Because it requires some libraries that not all users will have
-installed, and conda will ensure that they are installed as well.
-
 - If you're familiar with the command line and want TensorFlow support, look [below](
 deeplabcut-with-tf-install) for a fresh installation that has worked for us (on Linux)
 and makes it possible to use the GPU with both PyTorch and TensorFlow.
