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When I try to install Python 3.8 terminal says it is done, but when I run python --version it says Python 3.7.

(base) user@admin:~$ sudo apt-get install python3.8
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree       
Reading state information... Done
python3.8 is already the newest version (3.8.2-1ubuntu1.2).
The following packages were automatically installed and are no longer required:
  libllvm9 libllvm9:i386
Use 'sudo apt autoremove' to remove them.
0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 0 to remove and 38 not upgraded.

(base) user@admin:~$ python --version
Python 3.7.6
Zanna
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Burak Çolak
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    The python 3.8 is most likely installed. You can verify it by running `which python3.8` which will print `/usr/bin/python3.8`. The `python` command You are running is just a symlink inside the `/usr/bin/` folder pointing to python 3.7.6 – Michal Przybylowicz Jul 24 '20 at 19:57
  • Oh! I see thanks! But so how can I connect Py3.8 to VScode. Because my vscode Python is on version 3.8 but I can't import any modules because of version different my terminal? Have any solutions for that ? – Burak Çolak Jul 24 '20 at 20:03
  • @BurakÇolak Please update Your question with what exactly are You trying to achieve. – Michal Przybylowicz Jul 24 '20 at 20:35
  • what does (base) in front of your prompt status mean? are you installing it in a conda/python environment? – abu_bua Jul 24 '20 at 20:39

2 Answers2

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As per the instructions on How to Install Python 3.8 on Ubuntu, Debian and LinuxMint – TecAdmin, try the following:

Prerequisites:

Install [and or update] the following packages; build-essential, checkinstall, libreadline-gplv2-dev, libncursesw5-dev, libssl-dev, libsqlite3-dev, tk-dev, libgdbm-dev, libc6-dev, libbz2-dev, libffi-dev, zlib1g-dev.

sudo apt install build-essential checkinstall
sudo apt-get install libreadline-gplv2-dev libncursesw5-dev libssl-dev libsqlite3-dev tk-dev libgdbm-dev libc6-dev libbz2-dev libffi-dev zlib1g-dev

Thereafter, change directory (cd) to your opt folder [or any convenient folder] and download the python source code from python's server:

First change directory (cd) to the 'opt' folder:

cd /opt/

Download the source code

sudo wget https://www.python.org/ftp/python/3.8.3/Python-3.8.3.tgz

Extract the [downloaded] source code files

sudo tar xzf Python-3.8.3.tgz

Change directory (cd) the Python Folder [created after the extraction]

cd Python-3.8.3

Compile the source code

sudo ./configure --enable-optimizations

then

sudo make altinstall

Once the compilation is completed, you can confirm that Python 3.8 has been installed successfully with:

python3.8 -V

You should see the response Python-3.8.3.

However, to precisely answer your question, python 3.8 isn't available via ubuntu official repos. You would have to add a PPA to get python 3.8 using sudo apt install [python3.x.x].

The process is described on How to Install Python 3.8 on Ubuntu 18.04 | Linuxize

Hope this helps and I hope I answered your question adequately.

Kulfy
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Alvindera97
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    *python 3.8 isn't available via ubuntu official repos:* As per [Ubuntu package search](https://packages.ubuntu.com/search?keywords=python3.8&searchon=names&suite=all&section=all), Python 3.8 is **available** for all versions starting from 18.04. Also, I use 20.04 as my primary installation and Python 3.8 is the default Python 3 in that. See [release notes of Focal Fossa](https://wiki.ubuntu.com/FocalFossa/ReleaseNotes#Python3_by_default). – Kulfy Jul 25 '20 at 15:19
  • libreadline-gplv2-dev seems obsoleted. libreadline-dev is installed though. – harryghgim May 17 '23 at 03:30
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It looks like Python 3.8 is already installed but not set as default. Python 3.7.6 is set as default.

Update default Python3 version by below command.

sudo update-alternatives --config python3

Choose Python 3.8 option and check Python version again.

KK Patel
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  • I assume OP is using 20.04 (since 3.8.2-1ubuntu1.2 is available in Focal as per [Ubuntu package search](https://packages.ubuntu.com/search?keywords=python3.8&searchon=names&suite=all&section=all)). Python 3.8 is already set to be the default **`python3`**. Changing it would have made many applications to behave abnormally. As per the question, it seems they made `python` a symlink/alias to 3.7. So, they need to update alternatives for **`python`**. Moreover, AFAIK, alternatives for Python and Python 3 aren't "installed" to be configured by default. You might need to `-install` them first. – Kulfy Jul 25 '20 at 15:12