[Solved] Advice on main python interpreter.

wpkzz · Tux's lil' helper Joined: 28 Feb 2013 Posts: 80

Greetings OS-compilers:

Is it recommendable to set the main python interpreter to 3.3 or 3.4? I do not know if 2.7 is really needed for "basic system" or I can just have one single python for both the system and my personal needs.

Thanks in advance.

ct85711 · Veteran Joined: 27 Sep 2005 Posts: 1791

Sadly, there is quite a few packages still depending on python 2.7, so you are going have to have that version at the very least. Last I saw, the use flag for 3.4 was still masked (the version is still perfectly able to install). So if you want only one version, stick with only 2.7. You won't be able to go with only one python compiler with 3.3 or 3.4.

wpkzz · Tux's lil' helper Joined: 28 Feb 2013 Posts: 80

Okey, but that is not exactly my question:

Could I set the main python interpreter to one of the 3.x versions? Even though i would still have the 2.7 as a subsidiary interpreter...
I guess I am just being a bit picky here, I would love that for root and user the "python" command is, by default, the 3.4 unless 2.7 is needed.

ct85711 · Veteran Joined: 27 Sep 2005 Posts: 1791

You are fine on setting the main python interpreter to 3.3 or 3.4 through eselect (I've been running my system with the main set to 3.4 without much problem). Just be sure you do not get PYTHON_SINGLE_TARGET in your make.conf. Setting that in your make.conf will cause you several issues for packages that depend on a different version (you would end up having to put them in your package.use specifying the needed version).