How to Update Python Version? - [Upgrade Python Version]

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Python (py) is an open-source high-level programming language that allows users to execute commands, plugins on their machine, and even software from several major suppliers. It means you can operate it on many different operating systems, including the Windows VPS Server. Python is a cross-platform programming language. From Beginner to Expert: Master Python Programming with Our Step-by-Step Guide

Pip (package management system for Python) is one of the best applications for Python package installation and administration. Pip's popularity stems from the many apps that use this tool. Pip enables 3rd Party package installed to manage binary packages with the quickly configured package manager. Since Python's latest releases have piping as normal, this guide will explain how to install PIP and how to update Python version with a complete step-by-step guide.

What is PIP?

PIP stands for "Pip Installs Packages." It's the package manager for the Python programming language, making it easy for developers to install and manage software libraries written in Python. PIP is used to augment Python with additional functionalities that aren't part of the standard library.

History and Evolution:

PIP was introduced as a replacement for easy_install, another older package management system for Python. As the Python community grew and more libraries became available, there arose a need for a more efficient, user-friendly package manager. PIP, with its straightforward syntax and wide range of functionalities, soon became the preferred choice.

Core Features:

1. Installing Python Packages: The primary function of PIP is to fetch and install packages from the Python Package Index, also known as PyPI. With a simple command like pip install package-name, developers can get and set up their desired Python library.
2. Requirements File: Developers can list multiple packages with their respective versions in a requirements.txt file. Using pip install -r requirements.txt, all the mentioned packages can be installed simultaneously, making it easy to replicate environments.
3. Uninstalling Packages: PIP also provides an easy way to uninstall packages with the pip uninstall package-name.
4. Listing Packages: With the pip list, developers can view a list of installed packages.
5. Searching Packages: pip search package-name allows users to search for packages available on PyPI.
6. Managing Different Versions: PIP makes it easier to upgrade to newer versions of packages or downgrade to older ones, providing flexibility based on project requirements.

Updating Python on Windows

There are two simple ways to update your current Python version with the latest one. They are as follows: 

1. Using the Python Installer
2. Using the Windows Chocolatey Package Manager

So let’s see how we can update the Python version with these two methods, one by one.

Method 1: Python update on Windows using the Python Installer

This method of updating the Python version will work whether Python is installed or not on your System.

If Python is already installed on your system, you can check it using the Python -V command.

Step 1: Download the Python installer from the Official Website of Python

The easiest way to update the Python version is to download the latest version from the official website (https://www.python.org/downloads/)

You can click on the Download Python 3.11.0 button, and it will download the latest compatible Python version for your system.

Step 2: Install the Downloaded Python Installer

After downloading the exe file, double-click on it to install Python.

Step 3: Install Python

Now, you can install the latest version of Python.

Check the “Add python.ext to PATH”, then click on the “Install Now” button.

This will start the installation process. 

After processing, the latest version of Python will be installed on your system. 

Click on the “Close” Button.

Step 4: Verify the Update

After successful installation, you can verify whether or not the latest version is installed on your system. To check the Python version, you can again run the same command, python -V, on the prompt command.

Now, you can see that it is showing the latest installed version, i.e., Python 3.11.0.

Note: If it still shows the old version, you may restart your system. Or uninstall the old version from the control panel.

Method 2: Install Python using Command Line Only using the Chocolatey Package Manager

Chocolatey is a Package Manager command line tool for Windows, and we can use it to install software for our Windows system. In our case, we can use it to install Python or update the current version of Python.

Step 1 Open The Powershell as Administrator

To install Chocolatey, you need to open PowerShell as Administrator.

Step 2: Install the Chocolatey Package Manager Command

Now, you can install the Chocolatey package manager using the following command.

Set-ExecutionPolicy Bypass -Scope Process -Force; [System.Net.ServicePointManager]::SecurityProtocol = [System.Net.ServicePointManager]::SecurityProtocol -bor 3072; iex ((New-Object System.Net.WebClient).DownloadString('https://community.chocolatey.org/install.ps1'))

Step 3: Verify the Chocolatey Installation

Now, you need to check whether Chocolatey has been installed successfully. To check it, run the “choco” command.

It is installed successfully because it is showing version Chocolatey v1.2.0.

Step 4: Update Python with Chocolatey

With the help of the choco upgrade command, we can update our current Python version.

choco upgrade python -y

Step 5: Verify the Version

You can again check the latest installed Python version using the following command.

python -V

Note: The old version of Python will remain on your system. You can uninstall the old version from the control panel.

How To Upgrade Python on macOS?

You can download the latest version of Python for macOS from the official Python website, similar to what you did on windows OS to update Python version on your system. To check whether it is updated to the lasted version or not, follow the below-listed commands to check the Python version.

$ python --version

Python 2.x.x

$ python3 --version

Python 3.9.0

If you want to execute this new Python release with the python command instead of python3, install an alias in your $HOME directory's bash profile file.

Open the terminal window and type the following commands:

$ cd $HOME
$ nano .bash_profile

Then, at the bottom, add this segment.

alias python="python3"

Python 3.9 version can be checked using the following command.

$ python --version

Python 3.9.0

How to Update Python version on LINUX?

Users can use the below listed Linux commands to upgrade Python version on the Linux server:

ppa:deadsnakes/ppa can be added to the system's Software Sources to upgrade the machine with unsupported packages from this untrusted PPA.

$ sudo add-apt-repository ppa:deadsnakes/ppa

This command is used to update the Python package.

$ sudo apt update
$ sudo apt install python3.9

Then, using the commands below, you can search the versions of your new and current Python installations:

This command will show you the following version of Python installed in your system

$ sudo python --version

2.x.x

$ sudo python3 --version

3.8.x

$ sudo python3.9 --version

3.9.0

Different Linux distributions have different methods for managing packages, but here are the general methods:

1. Debian/Ubuntu:

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sudo apt-get update sudo apt-get upgrade python3

1. Fedora:

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sudo dnf upgrade python3

1. Arch Linux:

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sudo pacman -Syu python

1. Building from Source: For those who prefer to compile the latest Python version from source:
1. Go to the official Python website and download the source tarball.
2. Extract the tarball.
3. Navigate to the directory in a terminal.
4. Run the following commands:

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./configure make sudo make install

Post-Upgrade:

1. Check the Python version:

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python --version

1. If you have multiple versions of Python installed, you might need to use python3 instead of python to invoke the new version.
2. Consider using virtual environments (venv, virtualenv, etc.) to manage project-specific Python versions and dependencies.
3. Remember that if you upgrade to a new major version of Python (e.g., from 2.x to 3.x), there might be compatibility issues with your existing scripts or libraries. Always back up your work and test your projects after an upgrade.

Note: Always make sure to back up important data and configurations before making any system-wide changes or updates.

Why We Should Upgrade Python

Upgrading Python to the latest version or a more recent one provides a multitude of benefits, some of which pertain to performance, security, and new features. Let's elucidate the reasons for upgrading Python:

1. Performance Enhancements: With each successive version, the Python core development team makes myriad optimizations. Upgrading can yield substantial performance improvements, enabling your code to run faster and more efficiently.
2. Security Fixes: Like any software, older versions of Python might contain vulnerabilities. Regularly updating ensures that you receive patches for any security issues, fortifying your applications against potential threats.
3. New Features: Newer versions of Python invariably introduce novel features, constructs, and syntactical improvements. By upgrading, developers can leverage these enhancements to write more concise and readable code.
4. Improved Library Support: Many third-party libraries and frameworks gradually phase out support for older Python versions, focusing instead on compatibility with newer releases. To ensure that you can utilize the latest versions of these libraries, it's imperative to use a supported Python version.
5. Deprecated Features: Over time, some Python functions and features become deprecated and are eventually removed in subsequent versions. Upgrading ensures you're aligned with the latest best practices and avoids potential issues arising from deprecated features.
6. Bug Fixes: Beyond major features and improvements, newer versions of Python also address a multitude of bugs present in prior releases. These fixes enhance stability and predictability.
7. Extended Standard Library: Python's standard library is frequently augmented with new modules and functions. Upgrading provides access to these additional tools, broadening the repertoire of built-in utilities at a developer's disposal.
8. Type Hints and Annotations: Introduced in Python 3.5 and refined in subsequent versions, type hints allow developers to specify expected data types, enhancing code clarity and facilitating better IDE integrations and error checking.
9. Concurrency and Parallelism: Newer Python versions have improved support for concurrency and parallelism, crucial for applications that require high performance and responsiveness.
10. Support and Longevity: Older versions of Python will eventually reach their end-of-life (EOL), meaning they won't receive any further updates, even for critical security issues. Staying updated ensures that you're using a version that's actively supported by the community and core developers.
11. Consistency and Collaboration: If multiple developers or teams are working on interrelated projects, using different Python versions can introduce inconsistencies. Regularly updating ensures a uniform development environment, mitigating potential conflicts and incompatibilities.

While the aforementioned reasons make a compelling case for upgrading Python, it's also essential to exercise caution. Before transitioning to a newer version, one should assess compatibility with existing applications, libraries, and frameworks. Conduct thorough testing in a controlled environment to ensure that the upgrade doesn't introduce unforeseen issues.

Conclusion

We have seen how to update the Python version on operating systems like Windows, Mac OS, and Linux. Follow the guide carefully to update your Python software. We believe this guide fulfills your requirement though you can install the latest version successfully. Leave your comments below for your feedback and queries.