Learn how to configure and use a newer version of Python

This article walks you through setting up and using a new Python version. Perhaps you should do it when:

• You wish to use a different version of Python than what is already installed on the server and you have a managed server account.

Note: This is applicable to shared and reseller servers alike, as well as any hosting accounts using cPanel.

• An earlier version of Python is present in the package repositories for your Linux distribution, and you have an unmanaged server account.

Make sure your server is setup with a compiler and other development tools before continuing with this post.

Now let’s get going.

# Steps to configure managed servers

Your account can be located on a managed server that already has an older version of Python installed. So, if you wish to run a new version of Python, you can compile it by using this source code.
Perform the following steps to compile Python from the source code :

1. Using SSH, log in to your account.

2. Type following command in the command prompt :

cd~
wget https://www.python.org/ftp/python/3. 5. 2/Python-3. 5. 2. tgz
tar xvzf Python-3. 5. 2. tgz
cd Python-3. 5. 2
./configure --prefix=$HOME
make
make install

Note: This command explains how to install Python version 3.5.2. If you want to install a different version, then visit https://www.python.org/ftp/python/ to view the other versions that are available for download. Once you select a version, run the previous commands with the version number that you have selected at the place of 3.5.2.

3. To configure your shell environment and to use the new compiled executable, type the following command.

echo 'alias python3="/home/username/bin/python3.5" '>> ~/.bashrc
source ~/.bashrc

Replace the username with your Hostvento hosting account username.

4. In order to confirm that your account is configured to use the new version, type the following command :

python --version

# Steps to install virtualenv

To create virtual environments by using your installed version of Python, you first need to install the virtualenv program. Type following command to do this :

cd ~/bin

python3.5 -m pip install virtualenv

You are then allowed to create a virtual environment by running the virtualenv program in the bin directory. For example: if you want to create a virtual environment named testenv, type the following command :

~/bin/virtualenv testenv

Type the following command, to activate the new environment.

source testenv/bin/activate

#Steps to configure unmanaged servers

There is a possibility that the package repositories for your Linux distribution may contain the older version of the Python. But, if you want to run the new version of Python, then you can compile it from the source code. Perform the following steps to do so:

1. Using SSH, log in to your account.

2. Type the following command in the prompt, as a root user:

cd~
wget https://www.python.org/ftp/python/3. 5. 2. Python-3. 5. 2. tgz

tar xvzf Python-3. 5. 2. tgz

cd Python-3. 5. 2

./configure

make

make install

3. In order to configure the shell environment and to use the new compiled executable, type the following command :

echo 'alias python3="/executable_path/python3.5" ' >> ~/.bashrc
source ~/ .bashrc

Replace executable_path with the path to the compiled Python executable (example, /usr/local/bin).

4. To confirm if your account is configured to use the new version, type the following command :

python --version

For more information about Python, visit https://www.python.org