SPIKE 🔎 Replace isolated mode with context.conda_exe

[kenodegard]

Summary

We identified an issue with conda-build invoking the conda source code instead of the installed package when building the conda package:

• SPIKE: Investigate python -m usage #4561
• Fix python -m issue #4572
• Use python -m conda instead of PREFIX/bin/conda in shell functions  conda#11995

@kenodegard, @travishathaway, and @jaimergp looked into this and settled on using the isolated mode, python -I -m conda:

• Run Python in isolated mode unless in dev mode #4604

After discussing with the conda-forge community in preparation for the conda 22.11.0 release it was determined that this change may have an outsized impact due to other side effects of the isolated mode.

Python arguments: -I, -E, -P, -s

Note
It appears we only want the -P argument, but unfortunately, this is only available starting with Python 3.11.

So it was decided to change the feature to use an opt-in flag instead:

• Run conda in isolated mode only if opted in #4625

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Overall we feel that this opt-in feature adds unnecessary extra complexity to conda-build and would rather remove it. We need to investigate potential paths forward.

Timebox: Medium

Linked Issues & PRs

• Is context.conda_exe a viable alternative to python [-I|-P] -m conda?
• Identify all other instances in conda-build where context.conda_exe is used instead of python -m conda

[github-actions]

Hi there, thank you for your contribution!

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Thanks!