Learn how to - Install Python 3.8 on CentOS 7 / CentOS 8

Felix Williams Dev How to Linux Tutorials June 3, 2023

Learn how to – Install Python 3.8 on CentOS 7 / CentOS 8.

In this guide, you’ll learn how to install Python 3.8 on CentOS 7 / CentOS 8. Python is a popular programming language originally created by Guido van Rossum, and released in 1991. Python can be used to create web applications, handle big data and perform complex mathematics, system scripting, rapid prototyping and many other types of software Development. You can overcome your challenges in programming by getting Python assignment help from real experts.

For Python 2.7 and Python 3 installation on CentOS 8, check our guide – Install and Switch version of Python on CentOS 8

Recommended Python books: Best Books for Learning Python Programming

Install Python 3.8 on CentOS 7 / CentOS 8

Python works on Windows, Mac, Linux, Raspberry Pi, BSD and many other systems. As of this article update, the latest release of Python is version Python 3.8.x. This is the version of Python that we’ll install in this guide.

Step 1: Install Python Dependencies

As we’ll install Python from source, let’s install the packages required for Python installation.

sudo yum -y install epel-release
sudo yum -y update

Reboot after the upgrade

sudo reboot

After the reboot, install build dependencies

sudo yum -y groupinstall "Development Tools"
sudo yum -y install openssl-devel bzip2-devel libffi-devel xz-devel

Confirm gcc is available:

$ gcc --version
gcc (GCC) 4.8.5 20150623 (Red Hat 4.8.5-39)
Copyright (C) 2015 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
This is free software; see the source for copying conditions.  There is NO
warranty; not even for MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.

Step 2: Download latest Python 3.8 Archive

Now download the latest archive of Python 3.8 release.

sudo yum -y install wget
wget https://www.python.org/ftp/python/3.8.16/Python-3.8.16.tgz

Extract the package.

tar xvf Python-3.8.16.tgz

Change the created directory:

cd Python-3.8*/

Step 3: Install Python 3.8 on CentOS 7 / CentOS 8

Setup installation by running the configure script.

./configure --enable-optimizations

Initiate compilation of Python 3.8 on CentOS 7.

sudo make altinstall

If this was successful, you should get a message like below:

.....
copying build/scripts-3.8/pydoc3.8 -> /usr/local/bin
copying build/scripts-3.8/idle3.8 -> /usr/local/bin
copying build/scripts-3.8/2to3-3.8 -> /usr/local/bin
changing mode of /usr/local/bin/pydoc3.8 to 755
changing mode of /usr/local/bin/idle3.8 to 755
changing mode of /usr/local/bin/2to3-3.8 to 755
rm /usr/local/lib/python3.8/lib-dynload/_sysconfigdata__linux_x86_64-linux-gnu.py
rm -r /usr/local/lib/python3.8/lib-dynload/__pycache__
/usr/bin/install -c -m 644 ./Misc/python.man 
	/usr/local/share/man/man1/python3.8.16
if test "xupgrade" != "xno"  ; then 
	case upgrade in 
		upgrade) ensurepip="--altinstall --upgrade" ;; 
		install|*) ensurepip="--altinstall" ;; 
	esac; 
	 ./python -E -m ensurepip 
		$ensurepip --root=/ ; 
fi
Looking in links: /tmp/tmpy9yqf1bp
Collecting setuptools
Collecting pip
Installing collected packages: setuptools, pip
...

Step 4: Check Python 3.8 on CentOS 8 / CentOS 7.

Confirm that the installation of Python 3.8 on CentOS 8 / CentOS 7 was successful.

$ python3.8 --version
Python 3.8.16

Pip is also installed.

$ pip3.8 --version
pip 19.2.3 from /usr/local/lib/python3.8/site-packages/pip (python 3.8)

Recommended Python books: Best Books for Learning Python Programming

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Learn how to – Install Python 3.8 on CentOS 7 / CentOS 8