As a powerful and flexible programming language, Python is used in a variety of applications and industries. As a result, many developers prefer to set Python 3 as the default on their Ubuntu systems. This is because Python 3 offers several advantages over Python 2, including improvements to syntax, libraries, and support for Unicode. In this article, we will explore how to set Python 3 as the default in Ubuntu, along with code examples to help you get started.
Getting Started
Before you can set Python 3 as the default, you need to ensure that it is installed on your Ubuntu system. You can verify this by running the following command in your terminal:
python3 --version
If you receive an output with the version number of Python 3, you are good to go. If not, you will need to install Python 3 using your Ubuntu package manager. This can be done by running the following command:
sudo apt-get install python3
Setting Python 3 as Default
To set Python 3 as the default on your Ubuntu system, you will need to use the update-alternatives command. This command is used to manage program alternatives on your system. Here is the syntax for using update-alternatives to set Python 3 as the default:
sudo update-alternatives --install /usr/bin/python python /usr/bin/python3 1
This command creates a symbolic link from /usr/bin/python to /usr/bin/python3 and assigns it a priority of 1. This means that when you run the python command in your terminal, it will use Python 3 by default.
You can check that this has worked by running the which command with the python argument:
which python
This should return the following output:
/usr/bin/python
If you run the python command in your terminal, it should now open Python 3 by default. To verify this, you can run the following command in Python 3:
print("Hello World")
This should output "Hello World" to your terminal.
Updating Python 3 Version
If you have multiple versions of Python 3 installed on your Ubuntu system, you can update the version used as the default by running the following command:
sudo update-alternatives --config python
This command will display a list of available Python versions and their corresponding priorities. You can select the version you want to set as the default by entering the number next to it and pressing Enter.
Unset Python 3 as Default
If you ever need to unset Python 3 as the default and revert back to Python 2, you can run the following command:
sudo update-alternatives --remove python /usr/bin/python3
This command removes the symbolic link from /usr/bin/python to /usr/bin/python3, and Python 2 will be used as the default again.
Conclusion
In conclusion, setting Python 3 as the default on your Ubuntu system is an easy and straightforward process. By using the update-alternatives command, you can create a symbolic link from /usr/bin/python to /usr/bin/python3 and set it as the default with a priority of 1. With Python 3 as your default, you can take advantage of its numerous benefits and improvements over Python 2.
Sure! Let's dive deeper into some of the topics we covered in the article.
Advantages of Python 3
Python 3 offers a number of advantages over Python 2, which is why many developers prefer to set it as their default. Here are some of the key benefits of Python 3:
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Improved syntax: Python 3 features improved syntax compared to Python 2, making it more readable and easier to write. For example, print statements are now functions in Python 3, which makes it easier to control output formatting.
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Libraries: Python 3 has a larger and more up-to-date collection of libraries, many of which are not available in Python 2. This means that developers can access more functionality and spend less time writing their own code.
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Unicode support: Python 3 has full support for Unicode, which means that developers can use non-Latin characters in their code and avoid encoding/decoding issues.
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Future-proofing: As Python 2 has reached its end of life, all new features and updates will be released for Python 3. By setting Python 3 as your default, you ensure that your code is future-proof and won't become outdated.
Using update-alternatives
update-alternatives is a powerful command that can be used to manage program alternatives on your Ubuntu system. In addition to setting Python 3 as your default, you can use update-alternatives for a variety of purposes, such as selecting which web browser to use or choosing a default Java version.
Here are some additional examples of how to use update-alternatives:
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To set your default text editor to Nano:
sudo update-alternatives --config editor -
To set your default web browser to Firefox:
sudo update-alternatives --config x-www-browser -
To set your default Java version:
sudo update-alternatives --config java
By using update-alternatives on your Ubuntu system, you can configure your environment to suit your preferences and requirements.
Conclusion
In summary, setting Python 3 as your default on Ubuntu is a simple process that can offer a number of benefits. With its improved syntax, wide range of libraries, Unicode support, and future-proofing, Python 3 is the preferred version for many developers. By using update-alternatives to manage your system programs, you can ensure that your environment is configured to meet your specific needs.
Popular questions
Sure! Here are five questions about setting Python 3 as the default on Ubuntu:
- What is the benefit of setting Python 3 as the default in Ubuntu?
Answer: Python 3 offers a number of advantages over Python 2, such as improved syntax, more up-to-date libraries, Unicode support, and future-proofing. By setting Python 3 as your default in Ubuntu, you can take advantage of these benefits and ensure your code is up-to-date.
- How can you check if Python 3 is installed on your Ubuntu system?
Answer: You can verify if Python 3 is installed on your Ubuntu system by running the following command in your terminal: python3 --version.
- What command can you use to set Python 3 as the default using
update-alternatives?
Answer: The following command can be used to set Python 3 as the default using update-alternatives: sudo update-alternatives --install /usr/bin/python python /usr/bin/python3 1.
- Can you have multiple versions of Python 3 installed on your Ubuntu system?
Answer: Yes, you can have multiple versions of Python 3 installed on your Ubuntu system. You can use update-alternatives to update the version used as the default.
- How can you unset Python 3 as the default and revert to Python 2?
Answer: You can unset Python 3 as the default and revert to Python 2 by running the following command: sudo update-alternatives --remove python /usr/bin/python3. This removes the symbolic link from /usr/bin/python to /usr/bin/python3, and Python 2 will be used as the default again.
Tag
Python3-Default
