linux uninstall python with code examples

There are a few different ways to uninstall Python on a Linux system, depending on how it was originally installed. Here, we will go over some common methods and provide code examples for each.

1. Uninstalling Python via the package manager

If Python was installed using a package manager such as apt or yum, it can be easily uninstalled using the same package manager.

For example, to uninstall Python 3 on Ubuntu using apt:

sudo apt-get remove python3

To uninstall Python 2 on Ubuntu using apt:

sudo apt-get remove python

2. Uninstalling Python via the source code

If Python was installed from source code, it can be uninstalled by removing the files and directories created during the installation process.

First, locate the installation directory. In most cases, it will be in the /usr/local/ directory. Once you've located the installation directory, you can remove it with the following command:

sudo rm -r /usr/local/python-3.x.x

Note: Make sure to replace "python-3.x.x" with the actual version of Python that you are uninstalling.

3. Removing Python from the system PATH

Even after uninstalling Python using one of the above methods, it may still be present in the system PATH. To remove it from the system PATH, you will need to edit the .bashrc or .bash_profile file in your home directory.

First, open the file in a text editor:

nano ~/.bashrc

Then, remove any lines that reference Python. For example, if the line export PATH="/usr/local/python-3.x.x/bin:$PATH" is present, remove it.

Once you've saved the changes to the file, you can reload it by running the following command:

source ~/.bashrc

After following these steps, Python should be completely uninstalled from your Linux system. Be sure to double check that python no longer exist in your system by running

python --version 

or

which python 

to check the existence of python in your PATH.

1. Uninstalling Python packages

In addition to uninstalling Python itself, you may also need to uninstall any Python packages that were installed. Python packages are installed using the package manager pip. To list all installed packages, you can run the following command:

pip list

To uninstall a specific package, use the command:

pip uninstall <package-name>

For example, to uninstall the package numpy, you would run:

pip uninstall numpy

If you installed python packages with pip3 you would use pip3 instead of pip in the above commands.

2. Virtual Environments

Another important topic related to uninstalling Python is virtual environments. A virtual environment is a separate Python environment that allows you to install packages and run Python scripts without affecting the system-wide Python installation.

If you created a virtual environment using the virtualenv or venv module, you can delete the virtual environment by simply deleting the directory it is located in. If you used conda, you can use the command conda env remove --name <env_name>.

3. Upgrading Python

If you are uninstalling Python in order to upgrade to a newer version, it is important to note that this process can have an impact on the packages and scripts that are installed on your system. Before upgrading, it is a good idea to make a list of all the packages that are currently installed and any scripts that are running.

After upgrading, you will need to reinstall any packages that were removed during the uninstallation process and make sure that any scripts that were running before the upgrade are still working.

4. Conclusion

Uninstalling Python on a Linux system can be a relatively straightforward process, but it is important to understand how Python was originally installed and how it is being used on your system. By following the steps outlined in this article, you should be able to completely remove Python and any associated packages from your Linux system.

However, it is always important to be very careful when making changes to your system, so if you are not confident in your ability to uninstall Python, it is always best to consult with an experienced administrator or developer for guidance.

Popular questions

1. How do I uninstall Python on a Linux system using a package manager?
   Answer: To uninstall Python on a Linux system using a package manager, you can use the command sudo apt-get remove python3 for Python 3 and sudo apt-get remove python for Python 2 on Ubuntu.

2. How do I uninstall Python that was installed from source code on a Linux system?
   Answer: To uninstall Python that was installed from source code on a Linux system, locate the installation directory, which is typically in the /usr/local/ directory. Then, remove the directory using the command sudo rm -r /usr/local/python-3.x.x, replacing "python-3.x.x" with the actual version of Python that you are uninstalling.

3. How do I remove Python from the system PATH on a Linux system?
   Answer: To remove Python from the system PATH on a Linux system, you will need to edit the .bashrc or .bash_profile file in your home directory. Open the file in a text editor and remove any lines that reference Python. Then, reload the file by running the command source ~/.bashrc.

4. How do I uninstall Python packages on a Linux system?
   Answer: To uninstall Python packages on a Linux system, you can use the command pip uninstall <package-name>. For example, to uninstall the package numpy, you would run pip uninstall numpy.

5. How do I delete a virtual environment in Linux?
   Answer: To delete a virtual environment in Linux, if you created a virtual environment using the virtualenv or venv module, you can delete the virtual environment by simply deleting the directory it is located in. If you used conda, you can use the command conda env remove --name <env_name>.

Tag

Uninstallation