Another try... again...

Makefile

-CONDA_ROOT := $(realpath $(CONDA_EXE)/../..)
+all: dev metadata build
 
-all: update-dev metadata build
-
-.PHONY: miniconda-installed
-miniconda-installed:
-	@[ "${CONDA_ROOT}" != "/" ] || (echo "Please install miniconda"; exit 1)
-
-.PHONY: update-dev
-update-dev: miniconda-installed environment.yml
-	conda env update
-	touch $@
+.PHONY: check-conda
+check-conda:
+	@[ "${CONDA_EXE}" != "" ] || \
+		(echo "Conda does not appear to be installed; please install it and try again"; exit 1)
+	@[ "${CONDA_PREFIX}" != "" ] || \
+		(echo "Conda does not appear to be active; please activate 'data' and try again"; exit 1)
+	@[ "${CONDA_DEFAULT_ENV}" == "data" ] || \
+		(echo "Wrong conda environment '${CONDA_DEFAULT_ENV}' appears to be active; please deactivate, activate 'data' and try again"; exit 1)
 
 .PHONY: metadata
 metadata:
@@ -23,11 +21,12 @@ build:
 test:
 	buildout parts=test name=all
 
-.PHONY: conda-active
-conda-active: update-dev
-	conda activate data
+${CONDA_PREFIX}: environment.yml
+	conda env update
+	touch $@
 
-dev: conda-active
+.PHONY: dev
+dev: check-conda ${CONDA_PREFIX}
 	for dir in shared/{schema,workspaces,channels} services/{workflow,capability} apps/cli/utilities/wf_monitor; do \
   		pushd $$dir; \
   		python setup.py develop; \