I'd suggest 2 things to help: 1. Try `pyenv` for python version management 2. See this tutorial for how to create a virtual environment and add it as a Jupyter kernel: https://selvamsubbiah.com/run-jupyter-notebook-in-a-virtual-...
Satyrn makes it easier to add virtual environments as a kernel, but you still will need to create the virtual environment and install torch there yourself.
That's a really great point you made about how confusing it is to pip install stuff with `!pip` when working in the notebook. Right now Satyrn does not support the `!` commands, but I will add this soon and try to make it so `!pip` works with the expected virtual environment you are working with.
Nowadays, before I try anything new, I mentally reserve one or two days for the inevitable problems with configuring, compiling and installing. Also, it happens regularly that the cost of trying something turns out to be too high, and I just move on to the next thing.
Of course, sometimes stuff works out of the box, but that is only in a small fraction of cases.
It is sad that it has come to this, and it makes me wonder how we'll cope in a future when software has even more layers of complexity.