Several leading universities worldwide utilize Python to introduce students to programming. Institutions such as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), the University of Texas at Arlington, and Stanford serve as examples of those that extensively employ this language.

Furthermore, it is worth mentioning that Python proves beneficial for a broad spectrum of educational, corporate, and scientific purposes – ranging from web development to desktop applications to machine learning and everything in between.

[ You might also like: How to Install the Latest Python on Ubuntu ]At present, two primary versions of Python are in use – 2 and 3, with 2 quickly losing traction to 3, as the latter is no longer actively developed. Since most Linux distributions include Python 2.x, this remains relevant.

[ You might also like: Getting Started with Python and Scripting in Linux – Part 1 ]This article will demonstrate how to install and use the latest Python version in RHEL-based distributions and Debian and its derivatives such as Ubuntu (the latest LTS version already includes the latest Python) or Linux Mint. Our emphasis will be on installing the core language tools usable in the command line.

Nonetheless, we will also clarify how to install Python IDLE – a GUI-based tool enabling the execution of Python code and the creation of standalone functions.

Installing Python on Linux from Source

As of this writing (November 2022), the latest version is Python 3.11, and we will proceed with the installation from the source.

Even though we can install the core packages and their dependencies using yum and aptitude (or apt-get) or apt.

Why? The rationale is straightforward: this approach ensures access to the latest stable release of the language (3.11) and provides a distribution-independent installation method.

Before installing Python in RHEL-based distributions like CentOS Stream, Fedora, Rocky, and AlmaLinux, confirm that your system has all necessary development dependencies:

<code># yum -y groupinstall development
# yum -y install zlib-devel</code>

In Debian-based distributions such as Ubuntu and Linux Mint, we must install gcc, make, and the zlib compression/decompression library:

<code># aptitude -y install gcc make zlib1g-dev</code>

After ensuring all essential packages are installed, proceed to the official Python download page to fetch the Python 3.11 source release or execute the following wget command to download it directly and install it.

<code># wget https://www.python.org/ftp/python/3.11.0/Python-3.11.0.tar.xz
# tar xJf Python-3.11.0.tar.xz
# cd Python-3.11.0
# ./configure
# make
# make install</code>

Take a break and enjoy a snack because this process might take some time. Upon completion, verify the location of the main binary using which:

<code># which python3
# python3 -V
# python3</code>

The output should resemble:

<code>[root@tecmint:~/Python-3.11.0]# which python3
<strong>/usr/local/bin/python3</strong>
[root@tecmint:~/Python-3.11.0]# python3 -V
<strong>Python 3.11.0</strong>
[root@tecmint:~/Python-3.11.0]# python3
Python 3.11.0 (main, Nov 15 2022, 09:50:56) [GCC 8.5.0 20210514 (Red Hat 8.5.0-10)] on linux
Type "help", "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information.
>>> quit
Use quit() or Ctrl-D (i.e. EOF) to exit
>>> quit()</code>

Congratulations! Python 3.11 is now installed on your system.

Installing Python IDLE on Linux

Python IDLE is a GUI-based tool for Python. To install Python IDLE, obtain the package named idle (Debian) or python-tools (RHEL).

<code># yum install python3-idle  [On <strong>RHEL/CentOS/Fedora</strong> and <strong>Rocky Linux/AlmaLinux</strong>]
# apt-get install idle       [On <strong>Debian, Ubuntu and Mint</strong>]</code>

Start the Python IDLE by typing:

<code># idle3
Or
# idle</code>

Summary

This article has outlined the steps to install the latest Python stable version from the source.

Lastly, if you're transitioning from Python 2, consider reviewing the 2to3 official documentation. This program translates Python 2 code into valid Python 3 code.

Are you curious or have feedback regarding this article? Feel free to reach out to us via the form provided below.

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