How to Install Python 3.11 on Linux Mint 21 or 20

Python 3.11 is the latest update to the widely-used programming language, offering a range of enhancements that make coding more efficient and enjoyable. If you’re using Linux Mint 21 or the older stable release of Linux Mint 20, installing Python 3.11 can provide you with these latest features and improvements.

Key Highlights of Python 3.11

• Error Messages: Enhanced for clarity, aiding quick debugging.
• Performance: The interpreter and garbage collection optimizations contribute to faster code execution.
• Syntax: New elements like the “match” and “case” keywords simplify code and improve readability.
• Typing Support: Extended annotations and better type checking.
• Standard Library: New and updated modules, such as “zoneinfo” for time zones and “graphlib” for graph algorithms.

With Python 3.11, you can expect a more streamlined and efficient coding experience. Our upcoming guide will focus on how to install Python 3.11 on Linux Mint 21 or Linux Mint 20, ensuring you can take advantage of these new features. Stay tuned for detailed installation steps.

Section 1: Import Python PPA on Linux Mint 21 or 20

In this section, we’ll guide you through importing a Python PPA (Personal Package Archive) to install the latest version of Python 3.11 on your Linux Mint system. PPAs are widely used by the Linux community to distribute software packages that may not be available in the official repositories or to provide newer versions of existing packages.

Two branches are available for Python 3.11: the stable branch and the nightly branch. While the stable branch offers the most recent official release and receives regular updates, the nightly branch provides the latest development changes. We recommend using the stable branch for most users, as it offers a more stable and tested version of Python 3.11.

Option 1: Import Python Stable PPA on Linux Mint for Python 3.11

To import the stable PPA for Python 3.11, open a terminal and enter the following command:

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

Option 2: Import Python Nightly PPA on Linux Mint for Python 3.11 (Upstream)

If you prefer to use the nightly PPA to access the latest development changes, enter the following command instead:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:deadsnakes/nightly -y

Refreshing the APT Sources List

After importing the desired Python PPA, you’ll need to update your APT sources list to fetch information about the new packages available from the PPA. To do this, execute the following command:

sudo apt update

Section 2: Install Python 3.11 on Linux Mint 21 or 20

Now that you’ve imported the Python PPA and updated your APT sources list let’s install Python 3.11 on your Linux Mint system. This section will guide you through the installation process and help you verify the installed version of Python 3.11. Additionally, we’ll discuss optional extras that can be installed to enhance your Python development experience.

Install Python 3.11 on Linux Mint APT Command

To install Python 3.11, open a terminal and enter the following command:

sudo apt install python3.11

Verifying the Installation of Python 3.11 on Linux Mint

After the installation is complete, you can verify the version and build of Python 3.11 by running the following command:

python3.11 --version

Optional Extras for Python 3.11 on Linux Mint 21 or 20

• Debug module:

sudo apt install python3.11-dbg

• Developer (dev) module:

sudo apt install python3.11-dev

• VENV (virtual environment) module:

sudo apt install python3.11-venv

• Distutils module:

sudo apt install python3.11-distutils

• lib2to3 utility module:

sudo apt install python3.11-lib2to3

• DBM.GNU module:

sudo apt install python3.11-gdbm

• Tkinter module:

sudo apt install python3.11-tk

To install all the extras in one go, run the following command.

sudo apt install python3.11-full

Section 3: Test Python 3.11 Shell on Linux Mint 21 or 20

After installing Python 3.11 on your Linux Mint system, ensuring everything is working as expected is important. In this section, we’ll walk you through the process of opening the Python 3.11 shell and exiting it when you’re done.

Opening the Python 3.11 Shell

To open the Python 3.11 shell, enter the following command in your terminal:

python3.11

This will launch the interactive Python 3.11 shell, where you can start typing Python commands, test your code, or explore the new features of Python 3.11.

Exiting the Python 3.11 Shell

When you’ve finished working with the Python 3.11 shell, you can exit it by entering the following command:

exit()

Alternatively, you can use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+D to exit the shell.

Section 4: Install Pip via Python 3.11 on Linux Mint 21 or 20

To enhance your Python 3.11 experience on Linux Mint, it’s essential to have PIP (the Python Package Installer) installed. PIP allows you to install and manage additional Python packages and libraries easily. In this section, we’ll guide you through the process of installing and upgrading PIP for Python 3.11 on Linux Mint.

Install Python PIP on Linux Mint

PIP should already be installed for most users who have installed Python 3.11 using the Python PPA repository. However, if you need to install it manually, follow these steps:

First, run the following APT command to install PIP:

sudo apt install python3-pip

Download and Install PIP Manually on Linux Mint

If you encounter issues with the previous method, you can also download and install PIP manually:

Download the get-pip.py file using the wget command:

wget https://bootstrap.pypa.io/get-pip.py

After downloading the file, run the following command to install PIP:

python3 get-pip.py

Upgrade PIP to the Latest Version on Linux Mint

After installing PIP, it’s recommended to check for upgrades to ensure you have the latest version:

python3 -m pip install --upgrade pip

Verifying the Installed Version of PIP on Linux Mint

To verify the installed version of PIP, run the following command:

pip --version

Section 5: Additional Commands and Tips for Python 3.11 on Linux Mint

This section will cover additional commands and tips for managing Python 3.11 on your Linux Mint system, including updating, removing, and switching between the nightly and stable PPA repositories.

How to Update Python 3.11

To update Python 3.11, follow these steps:

Update your APT package list:

sudo apt update

If an update for Python 3.11 is available, it will appear with the rest of your APT package upgrades. Proceed with the upgrade by running:

sudo apt upgrade

How to Remove Python 3.11

If you wish to remove Python 3.11 from your system, follow these steps:

Use the following command to remove Python 3.11 using the APT method:

sudo apt remove python3.11

Managing Nightly and Stable PPA Repositories

If you have added the nightly PPA repository and would like to switch back to the stable version or remove it, follow these steps:

Remove the nightly PPA using the following terminal command:

sudo add-apt-repository --remove ppa:deadsnakes/nightly -y

To switch back to the stable version of the deadsnakes/ppa repository, use the following command:

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

Switching Default Python Versions on Linux Mint 21 or 20

When you have multiple Python versions installed on your Linux Mint system, you may want to set a specific version as the default. To help you achieve this, we will walk you through the steps required to switch between different Python versions.

Adding Symbolic Links for Python Versions

First, you need to create symbolic links for each Python version separately. To accomplish this, run the following commands, customizing them as needed based on the Python versions installed on your system:

sudo update-alternatives --install /usr/bin/python python /usr/bin/python2.7 1
sudo update-alternatives --install /usr/bin/python python /usr/bin/python3.7 2
sudo update-alternatives --install /usr/bin/python python /usr/bin/python3.8 3
sudo update-alternatives --install /usr/bin/python python /usr/bin/python3.9 4
sudo update-alternatives --install /usr/bin/python python /usr/bin/python3.10 5
sudo update-alternatives --install /usr/bin/python python /usr/bin/python3.11 6
sudo update-alternatives --install /usr/bin/python python /usr/bin/python3.12 7

Note that the number at the end of each command (i.e., 1, 2, 3, etc.) represents the priority of the version. A higher number indicates a higher priority. In this example, Python 3.12 has the highest priority (7), and Python 2.7 has the lowest priority (1).

Switching to a Different Python Version on Linux Mint

To change the default Python version, enter the corresponding selection number in the following command:

sudo update-alternatives --config python

For example, if you want to set Python 3.11 as the default, you would enter the number 3. The output of the command should resemble the following:

update-alternatives: using /usr/bin/python3.11 to provide /usr/bin/python (python) in manual mode

This output confirms that Python 3.11 has been set as the default version. By following these steps, you can easily switch between different versions of Python on your Linux Mint system.

Conclusion

In this guide, we have discussed the process of installing Python 3.11 on Linux Mint, along with some tips and tricks to enhance your Python development experience. Following the steps outlined, you can successfully set up Python 3.11 on your Linux Mint system and explore its features and capabilities. Remember to customize your Python environment to suit your preferences and take advantage of the various resources available to help you become more proficient with Python.