Changing the Default Python Version
Problem:
Python 2.6.1 remains active despite installing Python 3.2 on a Mac, leading to confusion when typing python -V in Terminal.
Solution:
Regardless of the operating system (Mac, Linux, or Windows), python3 can be invoked without affecting Python 2 installations.
Historical Context:
Historically, scripts called python2 or python3 explicitly to maintain backwards compatibility. Python3 significantly departed from this practice, potentially breaking older scripts dependent on python=python2. To avoid this, the python command was left unchanged, allowing users to maintain compatibility for legacy applications.
Current Practice:
Today, most software explicitly refers to python2 or python3, freeing up the python command for user customization. However, this may vary depending on the operating system.
Specific Platform Considerations:
Understanding $PATH:
The PATH environment variable determines which directories are searched for executable files. The first match in the first directory is executed. For example, the python command may be a symlink to a specific version of Python installed on the system.
Additional Notes:
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