Symlink python3 to latest python version

As a Python developer, I understand the importance of keeping up with the latest Python versions and leveraging their features. However, it can be quite inconvenient to update the python3 command every time a new version is released. That’s where symbolic links, or symlinks, come to the rescue. In this blog post, I’ll guide you through the process of creating a symlink for the python3 command, ensuring that it always points to the latest Python version installed on your system. Let’s dive in and simplify our Python development workflow!

A symlink, or symbolic link, in Linux is a type of file that points to another file or directory, similar to a shortcut in Windows. It’s a powerful feature in Linux that allows for easy access and management of files and directories.

When it comes to Python, using a symlink to the latest version has several benefits. It allows for easy switching between different Python versions, which is especially beneficial for development environments. Moreover, symlinking to the latest Python version ensures you’re always using the most recent features, updates, and security fixes, which can enhance efficiency and maintain the integrity of your projects.

Symlink python3 to run python 3.10 (or any latest python versions)

First check which python version you need by running-

$ ls /usr/bin/python3*
/usr/bin/python3    /usr/bin/python3.5-config  /usr/bin/python3.5m-config  /usr/bin/python3.7-config  /usr/bin/python3.7m-config  /usr/bin/python3.10-config  /usr/bin/python3m
/usr/bin/python3.5  /usr/bin/python3.5m        /usr/bin/python3.7          /usr/bin/python3.7m        /usr/bin/python3.10          /usr/bin/python3-config    /usr/bin/python3m-config

Now, to symlink python 3.10 to python, execute the following command in your shell-

$ ln -sf /usr/bin/python3.10 /usr/bin/python3

The above command would have added a symlink of python3.10 to python3. To verify the same, you can run the command-

$ /usr/bin/python3 --version
Python 3.10.2

or even run the python3 command directly to check if the symlink works for Python 3.10-

$ python3 --version
Python 3.10.2

Symlinking python3 to latest python versions

Symlink python3 to run python 3.8

Similarly to symlink python 3.8 to python, execute the following command in your shell-

$ ln -sf /usr/bin/python3.8 /usr/bin/python3

The above command would have added a symlink of python3.8 to python3. To verify the same, you can run the command-

$ /usr/bin/python3 --version
Python 3.8.0

or even run the python3 command directly to check if the symlink works for Python 3.10-

$ python3 --version
Python 3.8.0

Symlink python3 to run python 3.9

Similarly to symlink python 3.9 to python, execute the following command in your shell-

$ ln -sf /usr/bin/python3.9 /usr/bin/python3

The above command would have added a symlink of python3.9 to python3. To verify the same, you can run the command-

$ /usr/bin/python3 --version
Python 3.9.0

or even run the python3 command directly to check if the symlink works for Python 3.10-

$ python3 --version
Python 3.9.0

Symlink python3 command to run python 3.11

Similarly to symlink python 3.11 to python, execute the following command in your shell-

$ ln -sf /usr/bin/python3.11 /usr/bin/python3

The above command would have added a symlink of python3.11 to python3. To verify the same, you can run the command-

$ /usr/bin/python3 --version
Python 3.11.0

or even run the python3 command directly to check if the symlink works for Python 3.11-

$ python3 --version
Python 3.11.0

As I’ve discussed ways to symlink any latest python version to python3 seamlessly, you can symlink to any version of your choice with the above commands.

And there you have it! We’ve reached the end of our journey, where we learned how to symlink the python3 command to the latest Python version on our system. By creating this symlink, we’ve achieved a more streamlined development experience, eliminating the need to manually update the python3 command each time a new Python version is installed. Now, we can effortlessly leverage the features and improvements of the latest Python release. So, go ahead, create your symlink, and enjoy a hassle-free Python development workflow. Happy coding!