Why is Python not updated on Mac after I used homebrew to install Python 3?

Question

I would like to update Python 2.7 to Python 3.4. Currently, I am using Mac OS X 10.9.5.

I have used Homebrew to install Python 3.4. However, when I used python -V to check the version of my Python in the terminal, it still appears to be on the 2.7 version.

Anybody have any idea as for why this is?

Also, I have tried to follow the directions of this article to update to Python 3 (see the second half of the article). Yet my system cannot find this file: /System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/3.4

Because you've installed python3, not "updated" python (which you shouldn't do - changing the system Python could lead to all kinds of problems). Try python3 -V. — jonrsharpe
– jonrsharpe, Commented Sep 9, 2015 at 10:36
@jonrsharpe According to the answer below, I can make a symlink from python to python3. Would this lead to problems also? — YAL
– YAL, Commented Sep 10, 2015 at 9:05

Prakash N · Accepted Answer · 2015-09-09 12:18:56Z

3

First install python3 using homebrew.

brew install python3

Second you may want to use python3 as default change the ~/.bash_aliases to point to python3. This can be done by adding the following command in the ~/.bash_aliases.

alias python='python3'

now all the python command gets referred to python3 by default.

EDIT 1: Try running the following command.

/usr/bin/env python3

This will make python3 as default environment for python executables.

EDIT 2: [Like suggested by robert] try making a symlink from python to python3. this makes python3 as default environment in all shells.

edited Sep 9, 2015 at 12:18

answered Sep 9, 2015 at 11:29

Prakash N

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3 Comments

robert Over a year ago

This will only work when python is invoked from bash. I suggest actually running python3 or making a symlink from python to python3 in /usr/local/bin.

Prakash N Over a year ago

Try running the following command. /usr/bin/env python3 . This will make python3 as default python executable environment

Prakash N Over a year ago

Yeah @robert that will be a better solution. I will update my answer.

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