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Hi there I have downloaded the mac installer here, http://www.python.org/download/releases/3.1.2/ , & installed it. But when I run terminal & type python it says:

Python 2.6.1 (r261:67515, Feb 11 2010, 00:51:29) [GCC 4.2.1 (Apple Inc. build 5646)] on darwin Type "help", "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information.

What I want to know is, is it safe to run Update Shell Profile.command in the Python 3.1 folder ? or should I run python 3.1.2 separately ? If I should run python 3.1.2 separately, how do I do so ? also how do I start IDLE ?

NSanjay
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Is there another python executable, perhaps python31?

You can also install other python versions via MacPorts if you need (although you'll still have to choose the right executable).

This should also be relevant: Multiple versions of Python on OS X Leopard

Community
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Bruno
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  • >Is there another python executable, perhaps python31? No – NSanjay Sep 03 '10 at 13:27
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    I DONT UNDERSTAND THIS ANSWER ! CAN SOMEONE PLEASE ANSWER MY QUESTIONS ? – NSanjay Sep 03 '10 at 13:37
  • Maybe `python3`? Start typing `python` and hit the tab key to see what it suggests. – Bruno Sep 03 '10 at 13:39
  • This could be relevant too, although that would install Python via MacPorts and not via the official package: https://trac.macports.org/wiki/Python – Bruno Sep 03 '10 at 13:41
  • It says this: python python2.6 python3.1 pythonw2.6 python-config python2.6-config python3.1-config pythonw3 python2.5 python3 pythonw pythonw3.1 python2.5-config python3-config pythonw2.5 also what does python -v do ? – NSanjay Sep 03 '10 at 13:45
  • `python3.1` looks like what you're looking for. They all are different executable for different versions of Python. The `-v` option, available for all of them will display the exact version for each of them. (The name of the executable is just the name of what you call, not necessarily the name of what it is.) – Bruno Sep 03 '10 at 13:47
  • so do I need to uninstall anything because all I need is python 3.1.2, are the other pythons in my list normal or is there some that seems to be manually installed ? – NSanjay Sep 03 '10 at 13:51
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    Python 2.5 and 2.6 come with OSX 10.6 out of the box and are part of the system. Don't uninstall them since some tools may rely on them. – Bruno Sep 03 '10 at 13:53
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    The generic command name for most Python 3 installations (including the python.org OS X ones) is `python3`. `python` is reserved for Python 2. – Ned Deily Sep 03 '10 at 16:30