How do I update Python to version 3?

Question

Is there any way to update Python on the Raspberry Pi (Wheezy) to Python 3.3?

Answer 1

You can install Python 3 easily:

$ sudo apt-get install python3

However: I wouldn't recommend settting this as the default version of Python.

If you're not already, starting using virtualenv, a tool for creating 'sandboxed' Python environments. Virtualenv will let you install multiple versions of Python without them conflicting with each other.

Installation is easy:

$ sudo pip install virtualenv

and creating a virtual environment in a folder is easy too:

$ virtualenv -p /usr/bin/python3 FOLDER

The -p flag tells you which version of Python to use. Then if you go into that folder:

$ cd FOLDER

you'll notice files like so:

$ ls
bin include lib

To activate this virtualenv type:

$ . bin/activate

The terminal line with change like so:

(FOLDER)$root@raspiberrypi: $

or something similar. The(FOLDER) part at the front tells you you're using the virtualenv.

To stop using that virtualenv just type:

deactivate