How to Install Python 3.11 on Ubuntu / Linux Mint

This tutorial will be helpful for beginners too, on how to install Python on Linux and also shows how to compile and install Python 3.11 on Linux distributions (ie) Ubuntu, Linux Mint, AlmaLinux, Fedora, and Rocky Linux.

What is Python?

Python is a programming language with many features, such as an intuitive syntax, powerful data structures, and robust support for object-oriented programming.

Python is used in a variety of domains, such as web development, scientific computing, and artificial intelligence.

Install Python 3.11 on Ubuntu / Linux Mint

Python can be installed on Linux systems via 2 methods

• Method 1: Via Repository
• Method 2: Via Source file

Method 1: Via Repository

For Debian-based systems

Step 1: Add the DeadSnakes PPA

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:deadsnakes/ppa

Step 2: Update the repository and install Python 3.11

sudo apt install python3.11

Step 3: To verify the installation, open a terminal window and type the following command:

python3 --version

From the above image Python, 3.8 is the default one, If you want to use Python 3.11 as your default Python, then you can type the following commands

sudo update-alternatives --install /usr/bin/python3 python3 /usr/bin/python3.11 1

sudo update-alternatives --install /usr/bin/python3 python3 /usr/bin/python3.8 2

Step 4: Configure Python 3.11 as the default

sudo update-alternatives --config python3

Method 2: Via Source file

Step 1: Install the required dependencies before proceeding

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

Step 2: Download the Python Source file from the FTP site or use the below command

wget https://www.python.org/ftp/python/3.11.0/Python-3.11.0.tar.xz

Step 3: Extract the contents

tar -xf Python-3.11.0.tar.xz && cd Python-3.11.0 && mv Python-3.11.0/ /opt/

Step 4: Configure Python from the source file

sudo ./configure --prefix=/opt/Python-3.11.0 --enable-optimizations

Step 5: Build and install Python 3.11

sudo make altinstall -j4

From the above command, I have provided j4, you can provide the numbers based on your CPU.

Step 6: Set Python 3.11 as the default

sudo update-alternatives --install /usr/bin/python python /opt/Python-3.11.0/python 1

Uninstall Python 3.11

To uninstall Python 3.11 run the below command

sudo apt remove python3.11

Conclusion

From this tutorial, you have learned how to download and install Python 3.11 on Ubuntu 22.04, 20.04, and Linux Mint 21

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