How to install and Set up Python on Mac

Hello Everyone this is a simple guide on how to quickly set up python on a mac and be able to switch between versions using pyenv!

First Note that all Mac OS come with Python 2.7 out the gate which can be helpful to learn but You might want to use Python 3 for more serious development!

This Blog will help you set this up in a quick and simple fashion!

Step 1 - Set up Homebrew

You will first need homebrew installed to be able to install everything straight from terminal.

just copy and paste this into your terminal:

/usr/bin/ruby -e "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/master/install)"

Step 2 - Install pyenv

Now we will install pyenv to help us manage and install different versions of Python, the pyenv docs describe its functionality as

"pyenv lets you easily switch between multiple versions of Python. It’s simple, unobtrusive, and follows the UNIX tradition of single-purpose tools that do one thing well."

Use Brew install

brew install pyenv

Add pyenv initializer to shell startup script

echo 'eval "$(pyenv init -)"' >> ~/.bash_profile

Reload your profile

source ~/.bash_profile

Step 3 - Install Python using pyenv

## List of Python versions

    You can look at a list of all the different python versions that 
    can be installed using the command 

   `pyenv install --list`

## Installing Selected Version

    Once you have selected a version you want to use install it using 
    the command 

   `pyenv install <version>`

Step 4 - Switching to the installed version

## Viewing all installed versions

  You can look at the list of all installed versions of python using 
  the command 

  `pyenv versions`

## Setting Global Version

 Set the global or default python version using the command

 `pyenv global <version>`

## Setting Local Version

  Set the local version for the repo by cd'ing into the repo then 
  using the command 

 `pyenv local <version>` 

## Checking Current Version in user

  You can always check what version of Python is currently being used 

  by using the command

python -V or python --version

Conclusion

pyenv is a great tool to use to easily manage and switch between Python

for more about pyenv look at their documentation here :
https://github.com/pyenv/pyenv/wiki

Comments

[ADONIS SIMO]

Thank you.
Please want to know if setting up a local version in a folder act like a virtualenv ?

[Rohit Pratti]

Yeah kind of however its alot easier to set up python now than this