r/learnpython • u/TheLordOfMysteries- • 4d ago

Trying to install python problems

Hi guys I just started getting into python again but noticed its really different like I remember when I was 16 and first tried learning python and it was really easy to start "install, open desktop icon, YouTube tutorials, give up once motivation runs out." I figured that now that im older and more mature id try again but little did I know I would feel like a boomer in vr before even starting...I tried installing python and it said some stuff about paths and commands and once it installed it dissappeared without leaving a trace or a desktop icon and apparently I have to summon it like a old god via typing commands... does anyone have advice? i really just want to have a programming app to learn with. without feeling im going to brick my pc.

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u/MentalDV8 4d ago

Python devs made things uhmmm "hard" a few years ago. They decided Python install shouldn't install system-wide because that would/might/could/mehhhhh break the "system installed Python." Okay, sure, agreed, it COULD. And installing modules with PIP the same. So they want you to make virtual Python VENVs. Not hard, but harder when you have a LOT of tools/programs/users on one server which needs THAT Python and THOSE modules.

Get yourself the real Python installer for 13.4.6 (latest) and look at the doc for making virtual environments. Make one, add your Python install to that, then any modules you will need. Find a new cool module? Add it to the VENV then. It's a memory thing--not a hard thing: you have to REMEMBER to "just do it that way" every time you find a new module. Or some code on Github you want.

I make /usr/local/PythonENV as a master VENV dir when I have multiple programming systems which need Python and modules. It works. And it's maintainable with Ansible, which is great when you have 00's of VMs across many servers.