Install Custom Python Version with pip on Ubuntu

Installing a custom version of Python on Ubuntu can enhance your development environment, allowing you to work with specific project requirements. This guide will walk you through the installation process, setting up pip, and adding Python to your PATH.

Step 1: Update Your System

Before installing Python, ensure your system is updated. Open your terminal and run:

sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade

Step 2: Install Required Dependencies

Install the required packages for building Python from source:

sudo apt install -y build-essential libssl-dev libffi-dev python3-dev

Step 3: Download Python Source Code

Visit the official Python website to find the version you want to install. You can also use wget to download it directly. Replace X.Y.Z with your desired version:

wget https://www.python.org/ftp/python/X.Y.Z/Python-X.Y.Z.tgz

Step 4: Extract the Downloaded File

Extract the downloaded tarball:

tar -xvf Python-X.Y.Z.tgz
cd Python-X.Y.Z

Step 5: Configure the Build

Configure the build environment. You can specify the installation path if needed (e.g., /usr/local):

./configure --enable-optimizations

Step 6: Compile and Install

Compile the source code and install Python. The -j option can speed up the process by using multiple cores:

make -j $(nproc)
sudo make altinstall

Note: Using make altinstall prevents overwriting the default python3 binary.

Step 7: Install pip

Once Python is installed, you can install pip (the package installer for Python) using the following command:

wget https://bootstrap.pypa.io/get-pip.py
sudo /usr/local/bin/pythonX.Y get-pip.py

Replace X.Y with the version number you installed (e.g., 3.10).

Step 8: Add Python to PATH

To ensure that your new Python installation and pip are accessible from anywhere, you need to add their directories to your PATH. Open your ~/.bashrc file:

nano ~/.bashrc

Add the following lines at the end of the file:

export PATH="/usr/local/bin/pythonX.Y:$PATH"

Replace X.Y with your installed version (e.g., 3.10). Save and exit (CTRL + X, then Y, then ENTER).

Step 9: Apply the Changes

To apply the changes made to your ~/.bashrc, run:

source ~/.bashrc

Step 10: Verify the Installation

Check if Python and pip are installed correctly by running:

pythonX.Y --version
pip --version

Conclusion

You have successfully installed a custom version of Python on Ubuntu, along with pip, and configured your PATH. You can now start developing your Python projects with your desired version.