What does the Python version line mean?

Question

What does the line that's displayed when you start an instance of the Python interpreter mean?

Python 2.7 (r27:82525, Jul  4 2010, 07:43:08) [MSC v.1500 64 bit (AMD64)] on win32

So I know I have Python 2.7, but what about the rest?

Especially confusing to me are the 64 bit (AMD64) on win32 and r27:82525 sections.

For reference, here's the [current start text for Python2 & Python3 on Arch Linux](http://pastebin.com/y053y6dT). — Two-Bit Alchemist, Apr 20 '14 at 10:08
How do you get that version string? All `python --version` is saying for me is `Python 2.7.8` — poizan42, Dec 12 '14 at 02:11
@poizan42 It appears when you enter python shell. In the command line when you just type python, this text appears right before the line which asks for your input `>>>` — Mark, Dec 13 '14 at 06:47

score 45 · Accepted Answer · edited May 12 '22 at 21:10

45

That line you see indicates how the python interpreter was built. Breaking it down:

Python 2.7                        -- Python version
(r27:82525, Jul 4 2010, 07:43:08) -- The build date and revision from src trunk 
                                     that was used to build this.
[MSC v.1500 64 bit (AMD64)]       -- Compiled with MSVC compiler targeting 64-bit
on win32                          -- All Windows platforms (64- and 32-bit)

edited May 12 '22 at 21:10

Dave Jarvis

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answered Jul 20 '13 at 01:59

greatwolf

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But why wouldn't it say win64? – Mark Jul 20 '13 at 02:02
16

@Mark It's mainly due to historical reasons. `win32` is a bit of a misnomer since it's generally used to refer to windows platform regardless of bit width support. – greatwolf Jul 20 '13 at 02:05
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@JonKiparsky You may be making a joke, but just in case - Windows has "win" as the first three letters – Mark Jul 21 '13 at 00:01
@Mark Don't you mean [WoW64](http://www.samlogic.net/articles/32-64-bit-windows-folder-x86-syswow64.htm)? In Microsoft land, 64-bit things go in **System32**. – Two-Bit Alchemist Apr 20 '14 at 10:12

score 9 · Answer 2 · edited May 23 '17 at 11:54

9

r27: revision 27

82525: build 82525

Jul 4 2010, 07:43:08: when your python binary was built

MSC v.1500: compiled with 64w-bit VC++ 2008

win32: you are using windows

It has also been asked before.

edited May 23 '17 at 11:54

Community

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answered Jul 20 '13 at 02:00

Brian

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Thanks although I wouldn't have known to search for that other question - I only searched for "python version line" – Mark Jul 20 '13 at 02:02

What does the Python version line mean?

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